Allen County and DeKalb County Domestic Abuse Attorneys
If someone calls the police in the heat of a family dispute, your private business is no longer private. Government authorities may now step in and take control of issues that were once family matters.
If anyone shows any signs of injury — even a minor scratch — the police will take one or both parties to jail. The state will proceed with prosecution even if the complaining party does not want to press charges.
A no-contact order, also called a restraining order, will be issued in most cases. It requires you to move out of your house and have no contact with family members by phone, e-mail or letter or in person. Violation of the order can result in more criminal charges.
What Is Domestic Battery?
Domestic battery is behaving in a rude, insolent or angry manner that results in bodily injury to:
- A spouse or ex-spouse
- A person with whom you are living or have lived with as a spouse
- A person with whom you have a child or children
Domestic Battery is a class A misdemeanor. If convicted, you could spend up to a year in prison and pay a fine of up to $5,000. However, if the incident takes place in front of a child age 16 or younger, or in front of a pregnant wife or girlfriend, or if it causes serious bodily harm, it becomes a class C felony, which has a minimum two-year sentence. Charges are more serious if the incident resulted in serious bodily harm.
If you are convicted of Domestic Battery, you will be prohibited from owning or carrying a firearm for the rest of your life.
Experienced Lawyers Who Know How to Help
If you have been charged with domestic battery, contact a Fort Wayne domestic violence attorney at Leonard, Hammond, Thoma & Terrill, P.C. It is important to speak to a lawyer as soon as possible. A procedural misstep or a misstatement to police at this stage can result in negative long-term consequences. It is also important to speak to an attorney promptly if you have been arrested for violation of a no-contact order.
To discuss your case and learn how we can help, please contact us by e-mail or call toll free 888-747-4083. From offices in Fort Wayne, we represent clients throughout Indiana.
