Recklessly Endangering Another Person

If you have been charged with recklessly endangering another person, you may be facing up to two years in prison. You will need a strong defense to avoid this harsh penalty.

What You Need To Know About Recklessly Endangering Another Person

In Pennsylvania, if the prosecution can prove these charges against you, you can be found guilty of harassment:

• If you have been charged with recklessly endangering another person, you are being charged with engaging in conduct that may put someone else in danger of death or serious bodily injury.
• Recklessly endangering another person is a misdemeanor of the second degree.

The key to understanding this charge, known as REAP, is centered on whether or not what you did was actually reckless. The police may have charged you because they believed your action was reckless, but in reality what you did may have simply been negligence.

An example of REAP would be if you pass your exit on the freeway, and then back up so you can take the right turn off.

What To Do If You Are Charged

Many factors may influence the police in their decision that you were recklessly endangering another person. For example, if the police smell alcohol or find illegal drugs in your car after an accident this may affect whether they consider that your actions were reckless.

• Recklessly endangering another person is sometimes paired with the crime of stalking. If you are convicted under REAP and are later charged with stalking, you may find that you are charged with a felony instead of misdemeanor.
• Often your actions will not be as important as the outcome of what happened. An example would be if a child’s safety was threatened because you became intoxicated and then used a power tool near a child. If the child was injured your action might become reckless when in other circumstances it would have been negligent.

As with most criminal charges, you should not talk to the police or prosecutors without your attorney by your side. What you say can be taken out of context and used against you. If the police question you, tell them you want a lawyer and politely refuse to answer their questions.

How A Lawyer Will Help

Your attorney needs to talk with you in detail about the incident you were charged with, and the time period leading up to it. Without an experienced criminal defense attorney to defend you, the court may simply accept that you were reckless.

Pennsylvania Recklessly Endangering Another Person Law

Recklessly Endangering Another Person is described and defined under The Pennsylvania Criminal Code under Title 18 Chapter 27. Read the code here.