Domestic Violence

Los Angeles County Area Domestic Violence Lawyer

The State of California takes the charge of “Domestic Violence” very seriously. Many of these cases may start out seeming minor, but the consequences can be devastating.

What is Domestic Violence?

In California, the relationship that constitutes “domestic” and the actions that count as “violence” are very broad and loosely defined. Married persons, boyfriend-girlfriends, same sex couples, blood relatives (siblings, parents and their children, cousins), even roommates are all relationships which count as “domestic” for purposes of this charge. It gets worse… Simple, acts which may not seem like a violence, such as pushing, pinching or hair pulling, are all actions which can and are routinely labeled as the “violence” aspect of the crime.

Considering pleading Guilty or “No Contest” to a Domestic Violence Charge?
DO NOT try to handle your case by yourself and DO NOT plead guilty without talking to an attorney.

A domestic violence conviction could result in you losing your job, your children and even your freedom. Criminal penalties for domestic violence may include jail time, probation, court ordered counseling for up to a year and other serious penalties.

If you have been charged with Domestic Violence you should immediately retain an attorney. Even a misdemeanor conviction for a Domestic Violence charge carries mandatory jail time. And this needs repeating: a Domestic Violence conviction can cause the loss of custody of your children, loss of employment, and if you are not yet a legal citizen can subject you to deportation.

Domestic Violence is not a “Male-Only” Crime

This is a unisex crime. Whether you are a man or a woman, if you are convicted of domestic violence in California, this creates a presumption that you are unfit to be the primary custodian of your own children. This means that you can lose custody of your children to the parent who may not even be the primary parent (in the case of a separation or divorce situation). If you want to protect yourself from such an humiliating and outrageous outcome as surrendering your children to a husband or wife that may only see your children a few times a year you need an attorney.

Firearms Prohibition

Under federal law, you cannot ever legally carry a firearm if you have a domestic violence conviction. If you are in the military or a member of law enforcement, this is usually the end of your career. In other fields that require you to have a state license, such as an attorney, a contractor, a hairdresser, those that require special licensing, this conviction can cause you to lose and/or prevent you from renewing that license!

Law Enforcement Professionals

The Omnibus Consolidated Appropriations Act of 1997 made several amendments to the Federal Gun Control Act of 1968. The amendments prohibit the possession of firearms and ammunition by persons convicted of state or federal misdemeanor crimes of domestic violence. Law enforcement officers and other governmental officials are NOT EXEMPT from these amendments.

Hire an Attorney

If you are considering pleading guilty to just “get this over with,” you are gravely mistaking the consequences. A Domestic Violence conviction will be a permanent criminal record following you for the rest of your life.

In the State of California, prosecutors rarely reduce or dismiss charges of domestic violence. In addition, a plea often requires jail time and mandatory classes that last up to 48 weeks. Unless you plead guilty and are prepared to take the classes and do the jail time, your case will go to trial. For that you will need an experienced trial attorney to prepare and present your defense.

If you are currently charged with domestic violence, or if you are suffering loss of employment, family, or deportation due to a domestic violence conviction, it is not too late. Contact the Baum Law Corp. We have successfully defended clients accused of domestic violence, have successfully argued for the dismissal of charges, and obtained favorable plea agreements for many clients facing criminal charges.

The Baum Law Corp. provides a vigorous defense against the criminal charges you face and represent you at any hearings involving a protective order that has been issued or may be pending.

We will carefully review the facts of your case and the events leading up to your arrest. Based upon our understanding of these facts and the strength of the case against you, we will recommend a legal strategy designed to obtain the best possible result in your circumstances.

In some cases, we may be able to convince the prosecutor to drop the charge or reduce it to a lesser offense. In other cases, we may be able to negotiate a plea agreement with the prosecutor on favorable terms. If the prosecution is not willing to be reasonable, we will be fully prepared to provide a vigorous defense on your behalf at trial.

Domestic Violence Lawyers

At the law firm of The Baum Law Corp., we have experience defending against domestic violence and domestic abuse charges. This includes charges of assault, battery, stalking, criminal threats, attempted murder, child endangerment, restraining order violations, and more.

The Baum Law Corp. criminal defense lawyers are known for aggressively defending charges of domestic violence. We are exceptionally skilled and experienced in this area of law.

An accuser does not have the power to “make the charge go away.” It is not uncommon in domestic violence cases for the accuser to want to “take back” his or her statement to the police or desires that the prosecutor not file charges. However, once an accusation is made, the law enforcement agency and the prosecutor working on your case are in complete control. Even if the accuser claims to have lied to the police, it is within the sole discretion of the prosecutor to decide whether the charges are true and whether there is sufficient evidence to pursue the case. Oftentimes, despite an accuser’s desire to “drop the charges”, it is too late and the accused must prove their innocence.

Many domestic violence offenses can be charged as either a misdemeanor or a felony. If you are convicted of misdemeanor domestic violence, you face probation, anger management classes, and up to one year in county jail. However, if you are convicted of a felony, you could also be sentenced to years in prison, even if this is your first offense. Whether your case is dismissed, or if you are convicted and get prison, all depends on the facts of your case AND the quality of your domestic violence lawyer. At The Baum Law Corp., our attorneys offer nothing less than the best defense for our clients.

The Baum Law Corp. has extensive experience defending domestic violence cases throughout Southern California including: Los Angeles County, Orange County, Riverside County, San Bernardino County, San Diego County, Santa Barbara County, and Ventura County.

If you or a loved one is accused of a domestic violence crime, call us today for a free confidential consultation. You will speak directly with the most skilled domestic violence attorneys California has to offer.

In Los Angeles County, The Baum Law Corp. routinely handles domestic violence cases in:
Airport Court (LAX), Alhambra, Antelope Valley (Lancaster), Antelope Valley Juvenile, Bellfower, Beverly Hills, Burbank, Catalina, Central Arraignment (Bauchet), Compton, Downtown Los Angeles (CCB), Downey, East Los Angeles, Eastlake Juvenile, El Monte, Glendale, Hollywood, Inglewood, Inglewood Juvenile, Long Beach, Malibu, Metropolitan (Hill Street), Newhall, Norwalk, Pasadena, Pomona, Torrance, San Fernando Valley, Santa Clarita (Valencia), Van Nuys, West Covina, and Whittier.