When a person has been arrested and charged with domestic violence, they’re facing serious charges that could range from a $500 fine to life in prison and a $10,000 fine. They may also face losing some of their most basic rights if they’re convicted of a felony and, no matter if it’s a misdemeanor or felony, they won’t be able to own a gun or ammunition in the future. No matter the severity of the charge, it’s essential for them to hire a lawyer for help.
In many cases, the person who is arrested and charged is going to be guilty of some level of violence. However, there are still defenses available to them. If their rights were not upheld, the lawyer may be able to have evidence suppressed or to have the charges dismissed altogether. Evidence being suppressed means there’s a higher chance a person will not be found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court. The lawyer may also be able to show they did not do what they were accused of, even if they did commit a smaller amount of violence. This doesn’t happen often, but it might be an option to help mitigate the charges.
In some cases, the person will not be guilty of the crime. They might have been falsely accused by the victim as retribution for a perceived wrong or they might have been the victim and injured the other person because of self-defense. In these cases, the lawyer can gather evidence to show they were not the one who created the situation, they stopped as soon as they felt safe to do so, or that there was never an incident and the person did not commit any crime. This can be incredibly difficult for a person to prove without legal assistance.
These types of charges can be incredibly serious and even misdemeanor charges can have a lasting impact on a person’s life. Whether or not they did what they’re accused of, it’s imperative they contact a lawyer for assistance immediately. The law offices of Vinas & Graham can help have charges dismissed or get a lower charge so they aren’t facing as severe penalties.
