Domestic Violence Lawyers in Jefferson

Have you been accused of domestic violence? Criminal defense attorney Sean Logue and the Youngstown Criminal Law Group are ready to stand up and fight for you.

Facing domestic violence charges is incredibly stressful, and these situations often leave everyone involved feeling angry toward a family member or close friend. Sean knows exactly how much pressure you’re dealing with right now. His goal is to ease that anger and worry by giving you strong, dedicated representation in court.

Crimes of Domestic Violence

When police respond to a domestic violence call, they almost always end up arresting at least one person. It doesn’t matter whether there’s solid evidence, no evidence at all, or even if the alleged victim insists they don’t want charges filed. The person accused will still be arrested and forced to deal with court hearings and plenty of other stressful consequences.

These days, anyone accused of domestic violence faces much tougher penalties than they would have years ago. While the goal behind these stricter rules is to keep victims safe, it also means the alleged offender can experience long-term, life-altering changes. If you’re in this position, an experienced Jefferson Ohio criminal lawyer can help you understand what you’re up against.

The phrase “domestic violence” covers a wide range of actions and behaviors between people who live together or are otherwise connected as family. These actions can include sexual attacks, verbal attacks, and physical attacks. In some cases, the accused is arrested over a single, one-time incident. In others, there’s a documented pattern of this kind of behavior stretching back over time.

Domestic Violence Defined

Under Ohio law, there are three specific situations that can get you arrested and charged with domestic violence:

• When you recklessly cause physical harm to someone in your family or household;
• When you knowingly cause—or attempt to cause—harm to a family or household member; or
• When you make a family or household member believe you’re about to physically harm them by threatening to use force.

Keep this in mind: you can be arrested for domestic violence even if you never laid a finger on the alleged victim. Because the rules are so broad, having a knowledgeable Jefferson Ohio OVI attorney in your corner can make all the difference.

Domestic Violence Types

Domestic violence charges come in several different forms. Some of the most common ones include child abuse or neglect, domestic assault and battery, rape, sexual battery, menacing by stalking, and violating a protection order.

Domestic Violence Defenses

If you’ve been charged with domestic violence, don’t assume that simply explaining your side of the story will make the charges disappear. More often than not, the version told by the accused is very different from the account given by the alleged victim. This is one reason why working with a seasoned Jefferson Ohio criminal lawyer matters so much.

A skilled, experienced defense attorney has a number of possible defenses ready to use, and may be able to persuade the court to reduce or even dismiss the charges. Some of the defenses used most often in domestic violence cases are listed below, though there are others not included here:

• False allegations – It’s not unusual for a soon-to-be ex-spouse or partner to make false accusations as a way to punish the accused or to gain leverage in a civil matter such as divorce, child support, or child custody.
• Self-defense – Everyone has the right to protect themselves, even in domestic violence situations. Courts are more likely to dismiss a case when the alleged victim’s own actions caused the conflict.
• Lack of evidence – When there’s no proof that domestic violence actually happened—no injuries and no other supporting evidence—the prosecutor won’t be able to secure a conviction.
• Accidental injury – This applies when the alleged victim was hurt through their own carelessness, or because of causes that have nothing to do with the accused.
• Defense of others – This is when the accused did injure another family member, but only to protect someone else from being harmed.

If you’re worried about which defense fits your situation, a trusted Jefferson Ohio OVI attorney can review the details and build a strategy around them.

Penalties for Domestic Violence

Several factors come into play when a judge decides on a sentence for domestic violence. These include how severe the injuries were, the type of victim involved, the offender’s prior criminal record, and the nature of the underlying charge.

Convictions can range anywhere from minor misdemeanors all the way up to first degree felonies. Every conviction carries fines, which start at $150 and can climb as high as $20,000. With the exception of minor misdemeanors, these charges also come with jail time, beginning at 30 days and stretching as long as 11 years. Given how high the stakes are, partnering with a dependable Jefferson Ohio criminal lawyer is one of the smartest moves you can make.

When you’re accused of domestic violence, Sean Logue and the Youngstown Criminal Law Group are exactly the team you want fighting on your behalf. Call us today at (330) 791-8104.