San Luis Obispo Domestic Violence Attorneys
Helping Concerned Clients Dealing With Domestic Violence Charges
If you have been accused of harming or threatening to harm your spouse, dating partner, someone who lives in your home, or a parent of your children, you could be charged with a domestic violence crime. These charges are very serious and could lead to severe consequences, including jail or prison time, being required to attend domestic violence classes, or being restricted from entering your home or seeing your partner or your children.
The first step to take after being accused of committing a domestic violence offense is to ensure that you work with our experienced domestic violence defense attorneys in San Luis Obispo, CA. At the Stein-Conaway Law Firm, P.C., our legal team ensures you are treated fairly in the criminal justice system. We fight hard to ensure their rights and interests are protected when facing charges of domestic violence—we understand that their future freedoms and liberties are at risk.
Schedule a consultation today.
What Are the Penalties for Domestic Violence in San Luis Obispo?
If you are found guilty of a crime of domestic violence, you could have very severe penalties imposed by the court, which could include the following:
- A sentence in jail or state prison
- Fines or financial restitution
- Loss of access to your home, partner, and children (restraining order)
- Loss of child custody
- Loss of the right to own a firearm
- Immigration issues, such as deportation
- A permanent criminal record
- Completing a 26 of 52 week batterer’s intervention class
- Formal probation for at least three years
Contact our San Luis Obispo domestic violence lawyers today to protect yourself from these penalties and the fallout of being convicted.
Do I Need a Domestic Violence Lawyer?
When accused of domestic violence, the weight of the justice system is against you. The court experience can be frightening, especially when the consequences are severe. Your first step is to ensure you retain a domestic violence defense attorney so that you have the legal protection to help ensure your rights are protected and you get a fair shot. Your lawyer will stand between you and the full force of the criminal justice system.
Can a Domestic Violence Case be Defended?
You are innocent until proven guilty—but it likely won’t feel that way. Our San Luis Obispo domestic violence attorneys have the experience to defend you.
Defense Strategies
We will explore the defenses applicable in your situation, which may include the following:
- You did not commit an act of domestic violence and are falsely accused
- You were acting in self-defense after being attacked
- You were acting to protect another person who was being attacked
- The act was an accident, and you had no intention to harm
- You have been overcharged by the prosecution
What Are Domestic Violence Crimes?
Several offenses are considered domestic violence when they involve an intimate partner, such as a spouse, relationship partner, or member of a shared household. These offenses include the following:
Misdemeanor Domestic Battery:
California Penal Code section 242 defines a battery as “any willful and unlawful use of force or violence upon the person of another.” Misdemeanor battery may be proved by showing that a defendant touched the complaining witness in a harmful or offensive manner, and does not require that the complaining witness be injured.
Domestic Battery with Willful Infliction of Corporal Injury:
Committing a battery against a spouse, someone you live with, the parent of your child, or someone you had a previous romantic relationship with can involve more serious charges when you are accused of willful infliction of corporal injury. These charges can be misdemeanors or felonies.
Threats:
If it is alleged that you used verbal or written intimidation or threats that caused an immediate family member, romantic partner, or cohabitant to reasonably fear for their safety, you could face charges of criminal threats. Criminal threats can be charged as a misdemeanor or a felony, but if charged as a felony, it is considered a “strike” offense under California’s Three Strikes Law.
Felony Domestic Violence Charges in California
Facing felony domestic violence charges is one of the most serious situations a person can experience in the criminal justice system. These cases often involve allegations of significant harm, repeated incidents of violent acts, or circumstances that prosecutors view as more severe than a misdemeanor. A felony conviction can result in state prison time, long-term probation, heavy fines, and a permanent criminal record that impacts every aspect of your future, including employment, housing, and even family relationships.
Working with an experienced felony domestic violence attorney in San Luis Obispo is critical when the stakes are this high. A skilled lawyer can evaluate the evidence, challenge questionable accusations, and build a defense strategy aimed at protecting your freedom and reputation. At Stein-Conaway Law Firm, P.C., our San Luis Obispo felony domestic violence attorneys understand what is on the line and fight tirelessly to pursue the best possible outcome. If you have been accused, do not delay—speak with a dedicated felony domestic violence lawyer right away to safeguard your future.
How is Domestic Violence Punished?
California lawmakers have enacted some of the nation’s strongest laws to punish those who commit acts of domestic violence. These charges can be filed even if the alleged victim had no injuries. This situation makes it very difficult for a defendant, as just a verbal accusation of acts of domestic violence can result in an immediate arrest. Even those who are victims of false allegations will be facing a frightening and complex legal situation that should be handled with the assistance of a talented domestic violence lawyer. At the Stein-Conaway Law Firm, P.C., our criminal lawyers have extensive experience in these cases and can assist you in fighting to avoid the serious consequences you face.
Contact Us Today to Book a Free Consultation
At the Stein-Conaway Law Firm, P.C., we offer our clients the full support of our defense attorneys. We provide personalized, compassionate counsel and treat every individual we represent with respect, dignity, and understanding. If you are accused of a domestic violence offense, ensure you have the legal protection of lawyers who have extensive trial experience and have taken on criminal accusations regarding domestic violence crimes and won in court.
Don’t face a domestic violence charge alone. A domestic violence conviction can change your life forever. Prosecutors don’t take criminal charges associated with physical violence lightly. You can trust our domestic violence attorneys in San Luis Obispo to take every legal action that could benefit you, whether having charges reduced to a lesser offense, seeking to have the charges dismissed, or seeking a full acquittal at trial. If you’ve been accused, charged, or had a domestic violence restraining order placed on you, now is the time to act.
Your first step after an arrest for domestic violence is to contact us at 805-439-6069 for immediate legal assistance.