Orange County Domestic Violence: Domestic Battery

Law Offices of EJ Stopyro
Orange County Domestic Violence Lawyers
Criminal Defense Attorneys in Orange County

In California a battery is defined as “any willful and unlawful use of force of violence upon the person of another.” (California Penal Code Section 242) Any domestic violence lawyer in Orange County will tell you that under California law, a battery becomes a crime of domestic violence if the victim is in a special relationship to the defendant. Penal Code Section 243, one of Orange County’s primary domestic violence laws, makes battery a crime of domestic violence if the victim is the spouse, ex-spouse, cohabitant, parent of the defendant’s child, fiancé, fiancée, or in a dating relationship with the defendant.

While ordinary battery (battery committed on someone not in a special relationship to the defendant) is punishable by up to six months in jail, domestic battery is punishable by up to one year in the Orange County jail. Also, domestic violence attorneys in Orange County know that if you are convicted of domestic battery under Penal Code Section 243, you will be required to attend a minimum 52-week batterer’s treatment program at your expense. But perhaps most importantly a conviction for a crime of domestic violence on your record can have far reaching consequences on employment and background checks. If you have a prior conviction under Section 243 then a new conviction will carry mandatory jail time.

If the victim suffered “serious bodily injury” as a result of the domestic battery, the offense becomes a “wobbler”, meaning it can be charged as a felony and is punishable by up to four years in prison. Therefore, if the battery resulted in injury you should consult with an Orange Countydomestic violence lawyer without delay. If the victim did not suffer serious bodily injury the offense is a misdemeanor.

One common defense used by domestic violence defense attorneys is to show that a “dating relationship” did not exist under this statute. “Dating relationship”, as used in this statute, is defined as “frequent, intimate associations primarily characterized by the expectation of affectional or sexual involvement.” Thus, the DA must show that the defendant had frequent intimate associations in order to establish that a dating relationship existed. To discuss more defenses and defense strategies contact a domestic violence lawyer in Orange County. Call the Law Offices of EJ Stopyro today at (949) 559-5500 for a free and confidential consultation. Or visit our website at www.EJEsquire.com.

Law Offices of EJ Stopyro
Criminal Defense Lawyers in Orange County
Orange County Domestic Violence Defense Attorneys