Question
For two years, Annamaria's estranged husband, Jorge, has been telephoning, emailing and texting her threatening to harm her and their son. He has told her
For two years, Annamaria's estranged husband, Jorge, has been telephoning, emailing and texting her threatening to harm her and their son. He has told her that she is still his wife and he continually accuses her of having affairs with friends, colleagues, and strangers she meets in bars, all of which is untrue. There are no court orders in place as she has been afraid to take any action. However, in one recent incident, her employer contacted the police and had Jorge arrested when he threatened a security guard who refused to let him in to see her at work. She begged her boss to not press charges because it would put her at risk. After Jorge was released, he accosted her in a supermarket parking lot and yelled and waved a gun at her and their son as they sat terrified in her locked car. Later that evening he tried to break into her apartment and she called the police. When she failed to appear at his arraignment or probable cause hearing the charges were dismissed. A week later, Annamaria called 911 when he broke down the front door of her apartment and physically assaulted her in front of their son and then headed for the boy. When the police finally arrived, they again arrested him. She had a bloody nose, a black eye, and bruises on her arms and throat. The police took pictures and Annamaria was taken to the hospital where she was treated and released. Charges were filed but Annamaria told the prosecutor that she was too terrified to testify against Jorge. Both Annamaria and Jorge have contacted attorneys for advice. Jorge has told his attorney "if she thinks she is going to get away with this and embarrass me, she's crazy" and "She won't live to get a divorce or see me in prison." He says that he recently bought a gun and he laughs when he says he is "deadly serious" about "getting both her and the kid." What offenses might Jorge be charged with? How should each attorney respond? How is custody likely to be determined given the facts in this case?
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