If you have been charged with domestic violence, you need a domestic violence attorney. California has strict laws regarding this type of crime, and the charges alone can be enough to change your life negatively. If you have gotten into a physical altercation with your spouse, significant other, child, or cohabitant a prosecutor will likely follow through with the case, even if the other party recants their story. Don’t expect the charges to go away. Instead, hire a good lawyer that can protect your rights.
Many innocent people are accused of domestic violence and sometimes what starts as a simple argument escalates out of control. In either situation, attorney Martina A. Vigil can help. You can schedule an appointment by calling (714) 543-5840.
There are several reasons why a person may be falsely accused of violence. Oftentimes a spouse will bring charges in order to gain the upper hand in a custody case. In California, perpetrators of domestic violence are automatically assumed to be detrimental to children which means you could very well lose custody and even visitation rights, making hiring a good domestic violence attorney extremely important.
Many times there is no perpetrator of violence but rather a fight breaks out with two people behaving aggressively towards each other. In this instance, charges may be brought against one individual when they shouldn’t be. It is also important to tell your attorney if you were simply responding in self-defense.
When working with Ms. Vigil, you can expect her to build a strong defense. The sooner you discuss the case, the better because it gives more time to interview witnesses and uncover evidence that will back your side of the story. If the case appears strong enough, she may be able to convince prosecutors to drop or reduce the charges before they are actually filed. This is the best case scenario and can help you to avoid the complications that come from having criminal charges filed against you.
It is also important to note that domestic violence charges could be brought even if you did not actually harm someone. For example, you could be charged with a crime for allowing someone else in your household to beat a child or expose them to harm by having a drug lab or something similar in the home. This can be particularly tricky for a spouse that may be scared to report their significant other.
Threats of violence that produce fear in the other person could also be considered a crime, even if it didn’t escalate to violence. This can be a grey area as what you may consider to be a joke or a figure of speech could be interpreted by the other party as a major threat to their health and safety. If a charge of this nature is brought against you, witnesses become extremely important along with building a defense around your overall character.
Due to the complexity of California law, it is important to hire a domestic violence attorney that can advocate for your rights and ensure that they are protected. To schedule an appointment call (714) 543-5840 and speak with Ms. Vigil today.
