Acoso telefónico: qué es y cómo se penaliza

Explicación Simple

El acoso telefónico es cuando alguien llama a otra persona con la intención de molestarlo o asustarlo. Esto puede incluir usar malas palabras, llamar muchas veces o hacer amenazas. Si alguien hace esto, puede meterse en problemas con la ley.

Es como cuando alguien sigue molestándote en el recreo, gritando cosas feas para que te sientas mal. Aunque no te toque físicamente, esa acción puede hacerte sentir incómodo y asustado.

Ejemplo Práctico

Imagina que Juan, un chico de la escuela, empieza a llamar a Ana a altas horas de la noche, insultándola y amenazando con hacerle daño. Ana se siente atemorizada y decide reportar las llamadas a la policía, quien puede investigar y tomar acciones legales contra Juan.

Penalidades

Las penas pueden incluir cargos por delito menor o delito grave, dependiendo de la situación y antecedentes del infractor.

Texto Original del Estatuto (Inglés)

RCW 9.61.230 - Telephone harassment (1) Every person who, with intent to harass, intimidate, torment or embarrass any other person, shall make a telephone call to such other person:(a) Using any lewd, lascivious, profane, indecent, or obscene words or language, or suggesting the commission of any lewd or lascivious act; or(b) Anonymously or repeatedly or at an extremely inconvenient hour, whether or not conversation ensues; or(c) Threatening to inflict injury on the person or property of the person called or any member of his or her family or household;is guilty of a gross misdemeanor, except as provided in subsection (2) of this section.(2) The person is guilty of a class C felony punishable according to chapter 9A.20 RCW if either of the following applies:(a) That person has previously been convicted of any crime of harassment, as defined in RCW 9A.46.060, with the same victim or member of the victim's family or household or any person specifically named in a no-contact or no-harassment order in this or any other state; or(b) That person harasses another person under subsection (1)(c) of this section by threatening to kill the person threatened or any other person. RCW 9.61.240 - Telephone harassment -- Permitting telephone to be used Any person who knowingly permits any telephone under his control to be used for any purpose prohibited by RCW 9.61.230 shall be guilty of a misdemeanor. RCW 9.61.250 - Telephone harassment -- Offense, where deemed committed Any offense committed by use of a telephone as set forth in RCW 9.61.230 may be deemed to have been committed either at the place from which the telephone call or calls were made or at the place where the telephone call or calls were received.