Domestic violence is a serious crime and is recognized as such under the eyes of the law. It can be either a misdemeanor or a felony offence, with the felony being the more serious charge. As soon as you are arrested and charged with felony domestic violence, you’re going to need to get in touch with an attorney. The quicker you do this, the more time we’ll have to create a stronger defense for you.
Call: (951) 276-8900
Legal Help 24/7 in Riverside County
What Is Felony Domestic Violence?
Domestic violence occurs when there has been a violent act committed against someone who is in a domestic relationship. This could be anything from a spouse, a relative, someone you are in a relationship with or even just a sexual partner. If there is any violence committed towards these people, then it could go down as felony domestic violence. This includes felony child endangerment and felony child abuse.
Felony Domestic Violence Attorney In Riverside
As soon as you know you are being charged with this crime, you need to get in touch with an experienced Riverside domestic violence attorney like John L Michels who is an experienced Riverside Felony Trial Lawyer. He is one of, if not the best domestic violence attorney in the area, with extensive knowledge in this sector. Having been a former prosecutor, Michels knows exactly what they are going to do, and thanks to this special insight, he knows how to dodge it. Using an experienced felony domestic violence lawyer like Michels guarantees that you are getting someone with extensive knowledge of the law in this area, and has the best chance of getting you a reduced sentence on a reduced charge.
It is also going to be beneficial to you if you can manage to avoid Three Strikes Law which you will need an expert to do. It’s not an easy task, especially if you are facing a felony domestic abuse case, and this isn’t your first conviction. You need someone on your side who is confident in their ability and can provide you with domestic violence legal help.
Misdemeanor VS Felony
You might be wondering what the difference is between a misdemeanor and felony domestic violence charge. The differences are important, so it’s vital that you understand why you are being charged with one or the other. In California, if you are being accused of domestic violence, then you will likely be arrested on suspicion of corporal injury to a spouse which is a wobbler offence. These are misdemeanors that can be upgraded to a felony but will be seen as a lower-level felony than other crimes.
However, when domestic violence is tried as a felony, it comes under the Three Strike Law. If you are convicted of this, you are going to be facing a harsher sentence, and it will be used against you if you have any further convictions in the future. The charge can be a felony if for example, assault with a deadly weapon took place.
If you get charged with a felony, it is imperative that you speak to an excellent Riverside domestic violence defense attorney as soon as you can. Or, get your family to reach out to one on your behalf.
Can It Be Dropped To A Misdemeanor Or Altogether?
Yes, in some cases the charge can be dropped from a felony to a misdemeanor. For example, you can get the felony charges reduced to a misdemeanor (i.e domestic battery) with the help of an excellent domestic violence lawyer.
Even if there is an underlying suspicion of false accusation, the person being accused will still be removed from the scene of the crime. However, the charges can be dropped if the accuser drops them, or if you are found not guilty in court. It is possible to get a not guilty verdict even if you go to trial, you just need to make sure that you have the best felony trial lawyer in Riverside County on your side.
Penalties For A Felony Domestic Violence Conviction
The penalty for a felony domestic violence conviction varies. If you are charged with felony domestic violence, you could be looking at up to four years in prison. You will also have to take a domestic violence class that will be mandated by the court. The amount of time you are sentenced to will heavily depend on the extent of the damage that you caused while you were committing the crime. If you have committed the same or similar acts in the last few years, your sentence could be a lot harsher.
What Can You Do?
If you have been accused of domestic violence, then the best thing that you can do is get ahead of what is going on. Contact an experienced lawyer, tell them about what is happening, who is accusing you, what they are saying you did and so on. By doing this, you are giving yourself a greater chance of getting the charges against you dropped.
Keep in mind that just because you have been arrested, it does not mean that any charges have been brought against you yet, and now is the best time to shut this down. An experienced lawyer like Michels will be able to intervene quickly and swiftly, acting before it even goes to trial, or even before the prosecution has time to build a case against you.
Contact Us Today
If you want to know more about the services provided by John L Michels and the team, or you are in need of assistance, you can get in touch now. Riverside domestic violence lawyer John L. Michels is a compassionate attorney that understands the complexities of domestic violence charges and the aftermath involving the families involved. If you are facing charges of this nature in the Riverside, Banning, Murrieta, or Temecula area, then we’re waiting to hear from you.
Contact by phone on (951) 276-8900, or use the online service which is available 24/7 to give yourself the best possible chance.