Texas takes domestic abuse cases seriously. Depending on the specific charges involved, a conviction in a domestic abuse case could lead to jail time and fines. The repercussions of this type of conviction could also extend to your personal and professional life.
If you are facing criminal charges in a domestic abuse case in Fort Worth, a criminal defense lawyer at the Law Offices of Randall B. Isenberg can help you defend yourself against those charges. Our legal team will advise you on your options and work hard to protect your rights when we represent you. We can start discussing your options in a free case review, available by phone.
How the Law Offices of Randall B. Isenberg Can Help Defend You
When you hire a criminal defense lawyer from the Law Offices of Randall B. Isenberg to defend you, our legal team can tailor our defense strategy to your case and fight off the allegations made against you.
Our goal is to have the charges against you dismissed. If this outcome is not possible, we aim to help you get your charges or penalties reduced to minimize the consequences of a conviction in your life.
What Our Team Can do for You as Our Client
Our team will work together to help you build your defense argument and prepare your case for upcoming hearings. This may involve performing several services on your behalf to manage your case and prepare your defense, such as:
- Verifying that any statements you gave the police or prosecution were legally obtained (if not, this evidence may be excluded from the case against you)
- Making sure that the police and prosecution upheld your rights at all stages of your arrest and sentencing
- Examining the physical evidence against you for accuracy and proper handling
- Cross-examining witnesses
- Introducing new evidence
- Asserting that there is reasonable doubt to your guilt
- Asserting that your actions were in self-defense
We will investigate every aspect of your arrest, interrogation, and processing to determine whether your rights were violated and if other information may support your defense. Should you have any questions about your case, our team will also be available to provide answers and guidance.
We understand the stakes you might be facing for a domestic abuse charge, which is why we offer free case reviews to prospective clients. During this consultation, we can explain our services further and discuss what routes we might pursue to defend you.
How We Could Defend You Against Your Domestic Abuse Charges
If you are facing domestic abuse charges, you might be intimidated by certain allegations made against you, especially if your partner does exhibit injuries that they allege were caused by you or your actions.
However, there are still defenses available to you that our team may be able to use to help establish your innocence.
Defenses to Establish Your Innocence
Depending on the circumstances of your case, some defenses we might make on your behalf include the following:
- You were not present at the scene where the alleged abuse took place and have an alibi to support your claims.
- The alleged victim is lying about the abuse or there are inconsistencies in their story about how their injuries occurred.
- The injuries were caused by an accident, not abuse.
- You were acting in self-defense, which is why the other person was injured.
- There is no definitive evidence that can prove you caused the other person’s injuries, such as physical DNA on their body or signs of weapon use by you.
Our team can investigate the criminal report about the alleged abuse to find inconsistencies or reasonable doubt, then search for evidence to support your defense.
Defenses to Protect Your Rights
Regardless of whether you commit an offense, you have certain rights available to you when you are arrested, interrogated, and processed. Our team can look into how you were taken in by the arresting police officers to determine whether your rights were violated at any point. If so, we may be able to frame your defense around these points.
Rights violations may include the following:
- You were not read your Miranda rights when you were being arrested for domestic abuse.
- You were coerced into making statements that could incriminate you.
- The police officers who interrogated you did not properly record your interrogation.
- There was no probable cause or evidence to lead to your arrest for domestic abuse, including conducting a search or interrogation.
- The police continued to interrogate you after you invoked your right to remain silent.
Do not give in to the pressure that the police or prosecution may be putting on you. You may have defenses available to you that can support or establish your innocence. Our team will work hard to have your charges dismissed or reduced.
Domestic Abuse Charges in Texas
Several types of charges may be issued in a domestic abuse case in Texas. These charges may include:
Family Violence
Texas defines family violence as an act that causes or intends to cause physical harm or sexual assault between members of the same family or household, per Texas Family Code §71.004. This statute also criminalizes certain threats that cause the fear of physical harm or sexual assault.
Abuse of a Child
When the victim is a child, Texas Family Code §261.001 extends the definition of abuse to include:
- Causing or failing to prevent certain types of mental or emotional injuries
- Causing or failing to prevent physical injury
- Causing or failing to prevent harmful sexual conduct
- Harming a child after using a controlled substance
- Allowing a child to use a controlled substance
- Causing or allowing a child to participate in making obscene or pornographic material
- Child trafficking or prostitution
Dating Violence
Texas Family Code §71.0021 protects people in certain dating relationships from physical harm, assault, or sexual assault. Like family violence, dating violence can also include threats of such acts.
Dating violence can refer to acts against both current and past marriage and dating partners. Texas defines a dating relationship as “a relationship between individuals who have or have had a continuing relationship of a romantic or intimate nature.”
This law takes into consideration the length and nature of a relationship as well as its frequency of interaction when determining if it qualifies as a dating relationship.
Other Types of Charges
Depending on the specific nature of your case, you may also be facing the following charges:
- Assault
- Aggravated assault
- Injury to a child
- Resisting arrest
- Violation of protective order
The Law Offices of Randall B. Isenberg handles these and many other types of criminal charges in Texas. We know that every case is unique, and there is no one-size-fits-all approach to criminal defense work. Our firm can examine the circumstances of your arrest and help you understand each aspect of your case when we represent you.
For specific information on your charges, the penalties of a conviction, and how a domestic abuse lawyer from our firm can help defend your rights in Fort Worth, our legal team is available for questions by phone. We can review your case for free and discuss your options.
Criminal Conviction Penalties and Consequences
The type of consequences you may face with a conviction depends on what you are charged with. In general, Texas criminal conviction penalties may include:
- Class C misdemeanor: A fine of $500
- Class B misdemeanor: A fine of $2,000 and up to 180 days in jail
- Class A misdemeanor: A fine of $4,000 and up to 1 year in jail
- State jail felony: A fine of $10,000 and 180 days to 2 years in jail
- Third-degree felony: A fine of $10,000 and 2 to 10 years in prison
- Second-degree felony: A fine of $10,000 and 2 to 20 years in prison
- First-degree felony: A fine of $10,000 and 5 to 99 years in prison
Additional penalties may accompany certain types of convictions. For example, crimes involving automobiles may include driver license suspensions.
The Social and Professional Consequences of a Criminal Conviction
In addition to the penalties listed above, a criminal conviction in a domestic abuse case can have a number of serious consequences on your personal and professional life. A criminal conviction may:
- Be used against you in a child custody case
- Become part of your publicly available criminal record
- Make it difficult for you to obtain housing or a job
- Disqualify you from obtaining certain types of professional licenses
Get Help on Your Domestic Abuse Case in Fort Worth Today
You do not have to settle for a criminal defense lawyer in whom you are not confident. Our lead attorney Randall B. Isenberg has worked in law for over three decades. During this time, he has served as both a state district trial judge and senior chief felony prosecutor. This experience gives our firm a unique perspective into the other sides of the courtroom that we use in defense of our clients.
To learn more about hiring a domestic abuse lawyer from the Law Offices of Randall B. Isenberg, call our staff today. The sooner you call us, the sooner we can start defending your future.
