Quote Quoting Publius Syrus
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My question involves criminal law for the state of: CA

OK, I already know the first answer: get a lawyer.

Here are the details:

I have been "stalked" by a competitor in my industry for well over a year now. Lots of innuendo through various channels about harm coming to me, comments about my family etc. and at least one incident of verbal harassment. Pictures of me photoshopped into various compromising positions, or made to look like I was beaten and bruised. Bottom line, I have felt threatened, feel threatened by this individual. There is more than enough evidence to substantiate this.
And in light of all of this evidence, have you sought a restraining order, filed a stalking report, or taken any sort of legal action to counteract these actions? (Not that I care, but it's going to be the first question asked in court should this matter see the inside of either a civil or criminal courtroom, regardless of which side pursues the matter.)

Recently, the individual came within very close proximity to me at a business event. He had a camera with him and at one point when my back was turned he began surreptitiously taking pictures of me - from the angle of the camera, they would have been of my butt.

I approached the individual asking him what was he doing.
So instead of moving away, you chose to confront the individual by approaching him? When you physically approach in a confrontational manner, that's going to make you look like the aggressor, even if in your own mind you were in "defensive" mode.

He moved toward me and raised the camera toward my face - which alarmed me -
Alarmed you how? Did you truely believe that he was about to physically assault you with the camera, or were you just pissed off due to the ongoing nature of things? Did he attempt to swing the camera at you or otherwise make some motion or gesture other than raising the camera (a typical motion done with cameras) that would make a reasonable person (ie a person on the jury hearing the case) believe that some physical attack was forthcoming?


and began taking pictures of my face at close range.
He'd have been taking pictures from a greater distance, if you hadn't approached him and closed that distance.

Using the tips of my fingers, I gently pushed him away to created some distance. This was a defensive move. He stood his ground and continued to take pictures of me and at that point I put my hand on the camera lens, again as a defensive measure.
Look, he's taking pics - you touched him first. You lose. "Defensive" doesn't mean you touch first. You were on offense here.

While the contact was brief, gentle and caused no physical harm nor any damage to the camera (other than a finger on the lens), it was contact.
Contact is enough. You can face battery charges even without damage or injury to the other party, particularly when you were the one to approach him.

I am concerned as now this individual has sent emails threatening unspecific legal action, citing physical assault and damage of property. The individual has also posted such claims on public newsgroups. It is obvious that he intends to embellish the incident and use it to tarnish my name and/or get a settlement of some sort should the matter become a civil one.
In civil court, he'd have a pretty heavy burden to show damage either to himself or his equipment given your description. He needs something to sue you FOR (medical bills, replacement lens for the camera, pain and suffering, or some other quantifiable damage that he suffered due to your actions). However, there's no such restriction on the DA pursuing criminal charges against you - probably for misdemeanor battery.

Please do not insult my intelligence by telling me to get a lawyer. I will when the time is appropriate.
Keep numbers handy for both a civil defense attorney as well as a criminal defense attorney; especially the second as that's the more likely course.

Until that time I am looking to get some opinions on what the possibilities are as far as courses of action this individual might take and what I should do to protect myself, ie: I consider this individual's actions as threatening in nature. Should I file an assault complaint with the authorities? I am not a US resident, but travel to the US frequently.

Thanks in advance.
I'd be more worried about HIM filing an assault complaint. You filing the complaint, given your description of events, would be like a person carrying a mask and a wad of $50 bills sticking out of his pocket running up to a police officer to report a bank robbery down the street.

If you feel this person is an ongoing threat, and have whatever "documentation" you think can make your case, then get your butt in front of a judge and ask for a restraining order (although now that YOU have layed hands on HIM, he's got a good chance of getting one first or in conjunction with your request). When you go before a court and want to go on and on about continuing issues that might constitute threats or harassment, the first words out of your mouth need to be something along the lines of "and here's my stack of police reports about the many things that I feel constitute threats or harassment". Not, "I got sick of it and took it upon myself to deal with the issue physically".