The internet makes it easy for people with bad intentions to run targeted harassment campaigns. And dealing with one of them can be exhausting. Toxic direct messages, defamatory social media posts, and relentless emails can disrupt your daily life, and when they do, you may want a fast way to make it stop.
One common first step is sending a formal cease and desist letter. While this document is not a court order, an attorney can use it as a powerful legal tool to draw a clear line and lay the groundwork for formal civil or criminal action under Texas law.
From annoying to illegal: where Texas law draws the line
Texas law sets clear definitions that can turn persistent online behavior into a criminal offense:
- Criminal harassment: A person commits harassment when they send repeated electronic communications with the intent to harass, annoy, alarm, abuse, torment, or embarrass someone.
- Criminal stalking: When the behavior escalates to the point where a reasonable person would fear bodily injury or death (to themselves or a family member) it crosses into felony territory.
Understanding where the law draws this line is the first step toward taking action.
Building your legal case
Your best move is to stop all contact with the harasser and let your lawyer handle communication. While you can write a warning yourself, a letter drafted by an attorney on law firm letterhead carries more weight and creates a clear paper trail.
If the harasser ignores the letter and keeps sending messages, they hand you exactly the evidence you need. Your attorney can use it to file a civil lawsuit (such as intentional infliction of emotional distress or defamation) and request a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) or injunction.
Showing that the harasser knowingly continued their behavior after a formal warning puts your case in the strongest possible position and brings you one step closer to reclaiming your peace of mind.