Being charged with domestic violence in California can ruin a person’s life. Just having the stigma attached of being accused can affect relationships, jobs, and other important things in a person’s life. This is why an aggressive defense to charges of domestic violence is so important. Read on to learn how Chambers Law Firm can help and then contact us at 714-760-4088 to set up a consultation.
Domestic violence means more than one thing
While many people have a specific idea in mind when they think of “domestic violence,” the truth is that there is a wide range of behaviors that can result in this charge. They can include everything from threatening, harassing, or using physical force. Domestic violence can refer to any type of abuse, from emotional to physical, from screaming to pushing.
It can also include economic deprivation, using privilege against a partner, intimidating them, or isolating them to keep them afraid and feeling helpless. Specific behaviors that may be considered domestic violence by the courts include:
- Verbal abuse
- Assault with a weapon
- Physical battery
- Violence against a child or family member
- Stalking
- Threats of arm
- Physical harm
- Intimidation
- Sexual assault
- Sexual abuse
- Withholding money
- Withholding basic necessities
- Aggravated assault
- Infliction of corporal injury
- Infliction of psychological injury
False allegations happen on a regular basis
It’s unfortunate, but false allegations of domestic violence do happen. Sometimes it’s a partner who’s angry, jealous, or wants vengeance, while in others it may be an effort to affect a custody disagreement. It may even be that the incident was an accident. Even if a victim later recants and says that they were not being honest, the prosecutor can still decide to proceed with prosecution.
Potential consequences to a conviction
If you are convicted of domestic violence then you could end up spending as long as four years in prison and paying fines of up to $6,000. Domestic violence protection includes not just a current partner but former spouses and romantic partners with whom you lived. If you have children, note that the Family Code of California specifies that allowing custody for a person convicted of domestic violence is detrimental to the child, which can make it hard for custody or visitation if you’re convicted of domestic violence.
