If a court has told you to keep a low profile and not communicate with someone, it’s best to stay off Facebook.
Facebook still counts as communication.
This advice was apparently not taken by Maria Gonzalez and her Facebook activity may now land her in jail.
As the New York Law Journal reports (registration required), Gonzalez was under a protection order. She was not allowed to contact her sister-in-law Maribel Calderon.
However, she reportedly created a Facebook post calling her sister-in-law “stupid” and tagged her.
She also added these words, according to the law journal: “You and your family are sad…You guys have to come stronger than that!! I’m way over you guys but I guess not in ya agenda.”
When you’re tagged on Facebook, you receive a notification. This is what led to Gonzalez being charged with second-degree criminal contempt. This can lead to a year in jail.
Gonzalez’s attorney, seeking to dismiss the charges, reportedly told the court that the protection order didn’t specifically exclude communication via Facebook.
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