Domestic violence charges can be very serious and have a lifelong impact on your career, your family, and your reputation. A Kaufman family and domestic violence lawyer can help you defend your rights and even bargain for a reduction or dismissal of the charges.
You Could Face Heavy Penalties if Convicted
The type of charge you face for family violence (felony versus misdemeanor) dictates how harsh the penalties will be if you are convicted. All possible punishments are outlined under Texas Penal Code §12. They include:
- Jail time: If you are convicted of a Class A or Class B misdemeanor, you could spend months or even a full year in jail.
- Prison time: Unlike jail, which is only for those awaiting sentencing or serving short sentences, prison is for those serving long sentences (i.e., multiple years or a life sentence).
- Fines: A Class C misdemeanor carries a maximum fine of $500, while a third-degree felony carries a maximum fine of $10,000.
Lifelong Consequences of a Family Violence Conviction
After you have served your time and are ready to resume your old life, you may still find obstacles in your way. Having a family violence conviction on your record could have a negative impact on your ability to:
- Keep your job: If you are sent to jail or prison, your employer may not hold your job for you.
- Get a new job: Many employers are not interested in hiring people who were convicted of a crime, even if they have served their time.
- Find housing: Landlords may be reluctant to allow you to live in their building.
- Go to school: Universities may think twice about admitting individuals with a criminal record.
- Vote: Certain types of convictions may strip you of your right to vote in any election.
- Own a firearm: A protective order may temporarily prevent you from owning a gun; a conviction could rob you of that right permanently.
You may feel as if you are facing these potential consequences alone right now, but legal representation is one quick phone call away. Law Offices of Randall B. Isenberg serves clients throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth area, including Kaufman, Texas.
Let a Kaufman Family and Domestic Violence Lawyer Protect Your Rights
If, after consulting us, you decide to retain our services, here is how your case may go:
- First, we investigate: If proof exists of your innocence, police error or misconduct, or another individual’s guilt, we will find it.
- Next, we decide on a plan of action: In some cases, we have gotten the charges against our clients reduced; in others, we got the charges dismissed altogether. Our goal is to get you reduced penalties or no penalties at all.
- Then, we prepare for trial: If your case does not settle out of court, our team will prepare and submit trial exhibits and locate witnesses to testify on your behalf.
- Finally, we go to court: At trial, we will deliver oral arguments for you, question witnesses, and more.
Throughout the process, we will keep you updated about your case’s progress and your legal options. A lawyer from our firm can help you decide how to plead and answer your questions about how the law works.
Family Violence Takes Many Forms
Family violence is a very broad term. It includes a wide array of abusive behaviors, including:
- Physical abuse
- Mental abuse
- Verbal abuse
- Sexual abuse
Family violence can even include the threat of abuse. For example, if a person has reason to believe they are at risk of being abused, that reason in and of itself constitutes abuse, whether or not anything more ends up happening.
Violation of a Protective Order
If a person feels or is being threatened, they may ask a judge to issue a protective order, also called a restraining order. Texas Family Code §85.022 explains what a protective order entails and the many ways you can potentially violate it. Violations include but are not limited to:
- Contacting the accuser, either directly or through another party
- Threatening or abusing the accuser
- Going someplace that the accuser also goes to and that the judge has prohibited you from visiting (this may include your own house)
- Refusing to attend required intervention programs or meetings with a social worker
- Refusing to give up any guns you own (protective orders usually include the suspension of the subject’s gun license)
Family Violence Charges Vary in Severity
The type of charge you face depends on the severity of the crime and whether or not you have been convicted of similar crimes in the past. Examples of felonies include:
- Sexual assault
- Illegal sexual behavior, including incest
- Multiple violations of a protective order
- Trafficking
- Prolonged abusive behavior (i.e., causing bodily injury two or more times within a one year period)
Examples of misdemeanors include:
- A single violation of a protective order
- Attempting to harm a child
Which of these charges you face will dictate the steps our firm must take to defend you from conviction. We can help you understand your charges and the consequences you face, as well as how to build a defense against them.
Reach Out to Our Firm for Your Defense
Randy Isenberg, the founder of Law Offices of Randall B. Isenberg, has spent time as a prosecutor, a judge, and a defense attorney. This diversity of experience has given him and his team an in-depth understanding of how to build strong criminal defense cases. To hire a Kaufman family and domestic violence lawyer from our firm, call us at
(214) 696-9253.
