Can you commit an assault over the phone?
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Calif PC 422 - Criminal Threats - may apply (in CA, at least):
California Penal Code 422 PC defines the crime of “criminal threats” (formerly known as terrorist threats).
A “criminal threat” is when you threaten to kill or physically harm someone and
1. that person is thereby placed in a state of reasonably sustained fear for his/her safety or for the safety of his/her immediate family,
2. the threat is specific and unequivocal and
3. you communicate the threat verbally, in writing, or via an electronically transmitted device.
Criminal threats can be charged whether or not you have the ability to carry out the threat...and even if you don’t actually intend to execute the threat.
I’d be careful with that statute as I’ve read several Supreme Court cases that denied such a possibility (although it’s been awhile). It’s also California.
In any case, not even the made up examples by Gersh run afoul of that statute.