Pennsylvania - difference between simple assault and terroristic threat Forum

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caveman2

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Pennsylvania - difference between simple assault and terroristic threat

Post by caveman2 » Mon Feb 22, 2016 1:10 am

What's the main difference between simple assault and a terroristic threat in PA crim law? You can commit a simple assault by "attempting to put another in fear of imminent serious bodily injury" via a threat, but you can commit a terroristic threat by "a direct or indirect communication to commit a crime of violence with the intent to terrorize another." Those kind of sound like the same thing to me. Any thoughts on this?

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Gamecubesupreme

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Re: Pennsylvania - difference between simple assault and terroristic threat

Post by Gamecubesupreme » Mon Feb 22, 2016 11:51 am

I am not sure on this, but I remember from THEMIS' graded essay question that one way to draw this hair-splitting distinction the PA Bar Examiners used one year (yeah, apparently this was tested) was when the defendant threatened another with a gun, but did NOT put her finger on the trigger.

Apparently that was the difference between simple assault (finger NOT on trigger) and terroristic threat (finger ON trigger).

caveman2

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Re: Pennsylvania - difference between simple assault and terroristic threat

Post by caveman2 » Mon Feb 22, 2016 12:56 pm

Wow...that is ridiculous.

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