A Montreal woman charged with criminal harassment has been found guilty of posting anti-police graffiti on Instagram.

Jennifer Pawluck was charged after snapping a photo of graffiti depicting a senior Montreal police officer with a bullet in his head.

Cmdr. Ian Lafreniere, one of the city's most visible police officers, testified during her trial the image shook him up, scared his children and caused his wife to stop working for several months.

Pawluck testified in late February she posted the snap to the photo-sharing social media site without even knowing who Lafreniere was.

Following her March 2013 arrest, there was intense debate over whether a criminal charge was necessary in such circumstances.

Because Pawluck was charged under a summary offence, the maximum sentence is six months in jail or a $5,000 fine. Sentencing arguments will be heard May 14.