It doesn't become an actual crime until I find you and apply my cheese grater to your ass... in many jurisdictions, the threat of violence is all that is needed for an assault charge, and in others all that is required is "an act that causes another to apprehend violence", but in either case, stating that im going to rape you with said rusty cheese grater is still assault. it becomes battery when i actually do it.
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I do seem to recall a right to not incriminate yourself. pleading not guilty isn't perjury.