Due to California’s mandatory-arrest laws, if police suspect that someone has committed a domestic violence offense, they are required to take the suspect into custody. This instant treatment of guilt can result in a situation quickly spiraling out of control. If you’re facing domestic violence charges in Coronado, CA, you need an experienced defense attorney on your side who can protect your rights.
Blair Defense Criminal Lawyers has zealously represented the rights of the accused since the day we were founded. Our Coronado domestic violence lawyers have well over a decade of combined experience and understand how the law works inside and out.
Call us today at (619) 357-4977 for a free case review to discuss your legal response in light of the situation.
How Blair Defense Criminal Lawyers Can Help if You Were Charged With Domestic Violence in Coronado, California
If you are facing criminal charges involving domestic violence, the stakes are high. It’s critical that you lodge an aggressive defense to protect your rights. With over a decade of legal experience, you can trust the Coronado criminal defense attorneys at Blair Defense Criminal Lawyers to:
- Ensure you understand California’s domestic violence laws, options for responding, and potential penalties
- Investigate the incident and gather evidence to aid in your defense
- Build a solid defense based on the specific facts and circumstances involved in your case
- Explore options for resolving your case before trial through a plea bargain or pre-trial diversion
- Represent your legal interests at every phase of your case, including at trial if needed
Let our experienced domestic violence attorneys in Coronado, California, defend you. Call us today for a free consultation.
What Is Domestic Violence?
Domestic violence charges can arise when someone allegedly physically harms an intimate partner, which is defined as a current or former:
- Spouse, fiancé, or registered domestic partner
- Co-parent
- Boyfriend or girlfriend, regardless of whether they live together or not
These crimes carry significant penalties and can result in lifelong consequences if convicted.
Types of California Domestic Violence Crimes
California has a number of crimes that can be associated with domestic violence, some of the most common being:
- Domestic battery: If there is no visible injury to the alleged victim, prosecutors may charge you with domestic battery. This crime involves using force or violence against someone with whom you had an intimate relationship. California also has a separate crime called aggravated battery on a pregnant woman.
- Corporal injury to spouse or cohabitant: If the alleged victim was injured, prosecutors might charge you with corporal injury to spouse or cohabitant, which can be a misdemeanor or felony offense.
- Simple assault: This crime involves attempting to inflict a violent injury on another person with the present ability to inflict that injury. Assault can be charged even when there is no physical contact.
- Criminal threats: Criminal threats involve a willful or unlawful threat to commit a crime that could result in death or great bodily injury, intending that the crime be taken as a threat.
- Making an annoying phone call: This crime involves using a phone or other electronic means to threaten to inflict injury to another person or their property.
- Damage to a telephone or cable line: It is also illegal to damage a telephone or cable line, such as when trying to interfere with the victim’s ability to call for help during a domestic argument.
- Disobeying a domestic relations court order: It is common for courts to put restraining orders in place in domestic violence cases. If the respondent violates the order, they can face additional charges. Disobeying other court orders issued in domestic relations cases, such as a child custody order, is illegal.
If you are facing any of these or other domestic violence charges, contact our team today for immediate legal assistance.
Possible Penalties for Domestic Violence
California lawmakers take domestic violence crimes seriously and punish them accordingly. A conviction can result in penalties such as:
- Possible jail time, including mandatory minimums
- Fines of several thousand dollars
- Removal from the country if you are not an American citizen
- Placement of a criminal protective order
- Informal or formal probation
These penalties are in addition to collateral consequences you may suffer, such as being fired, having a criminal record that prevents you from having further employment, and losing your custody rights.
Domestic Violence Restraining Orders
California courts can put a restraining order in place in cases involving domestic violence. The burden to obtain these orders is relatively low, usually only requiring that the alleged victim show that you are in an intimate relationship as defined by law, and you abused or threatened to abuse the alleged victim or their minor child.
You can fight these orders, but you must comply with them until a judge dismisses them, or you can face additional criminal consequences.
Possible Defenses in Domestic Violence Cases
Your criminal defense lawyer can investigate your case and determine if these or other defenses are the most likely to be successful:
- Self-defense
- Defense of others
- Illegal search or seizure
- False accusations
- Injuries were due to another cause
The defense strategy we devise will be based on the particular details of your case.
Contact a Coronado Domestic Violence Attorney for a Free Consultation
If you are charged with a domestic violence crime, you need legal representation. Don’t leave your future to chance. Contact the experienced legal team at Blair Defense Criminal Lawyers to speak to a Coronado domestic violence attorney about your case and to begin fighting back.