Sexual Battery

Sexual battery is a California domestic violence offense that can be charged against any intimate partner. The term “intimate partners” describes nearly every type of relationship – the couple may be straight or gay, married, divorced, living together, have children in common, or be dating or formerly dated. Any individual who touches an intimate partner against that person’s will for sexual gratification can be charged with sexual battery.

Touching includes every type of physical contact – however slight – whether it occurs directly or through the clothing of either individual. Even partners in an ongoing intimate relationship can be charged with sexual battery. Depending on the circumstances, the individual can be charged with a misdemeanor or a felony, with penalties of up to one year in jail or up to four years in prison and fines of up to $10,000.

When a suspect is arrested on a sexual battery charge, bail is set according to the bail schedule but can be raised or lowered based on an application that can be submitted by the defendant, by anyone on behalf of the defendant or by the arresting officer. However, if the victim in the case suffered serious bodily injury as a result of the abuse, the law requires that a bail hearing must be held to determine if modification is appropriate.

If there is a bail hearing, the judge will consider the defendant’s prior criminal history, his or her flight risk, and the facts of the pending case to determine whether to raise or lower the set bail amount or to release the defendant on his or her own recognizance (OR). When the judge makes decisions about bail, he or she presumes that the accused is guilty and makes a decision keeping that in mind. With that being the case, it would be quite foolish for anyone to try and take on a bail hearing without first hiring a criminal defense lawyer who has experience with every phase of an intimate partner abuse case.

If the defendant is denied an OR release (which is typical when a defendant faces an intimate partner abuse charge) and must post bail, he or she may be released through two different methods: Posting cash bail or posting a bail bond. To be released on cash bail, the defendant must post certified funds (or cash) in the full amount of the bail with either the arresting agency or with the Clerk of the Court. If the accused attends every court appearance, the cash will be returned within 60-90 days after the case is resolved. However, if the defendant fails to appear, the cash bond is forfeited to the court.

A bail bond is a contract with a bail agent where the agent agrees to post a bond for the full bail amount. The bondsman will generally charge ten percent of the bond amount as his fee. The bondsman may also require “collateral” (which is usually a car, house or something else of great value) to secure the bond. This means that if the defendant doesn’t repay the bond, the bondman has the legal right to keep or sell the defendant’s collateral. Once the case is over, the bond is exonerated, and the collateral is then released.

A domestic violence arrest in California is no joke. An accusation can be devastating, emotionally and financially, and a conviction carries severe penalties. One’s reputation, career, family and freedom are jeopardized the minute the arrest is made. Because California is so strict with its sexual battery offenders, it’s critical to contact a skilled California defense attorney immediately after being arrested so that the attorney can help the accused navigate through the criminal court system right from the start. In order to secure the best representation from a firm who has successfully defended countless individuals charged with domestic abuse crimes, contact the unparalleled attorneys at The Kavinoky Law Firm for a free consultation.

Hearsay and its admissibility in a stalking case prosecuted as a California crime of domestic violence

When an individual harasses or follows and threatens his or her intimate partner, with the intent of placing that partner in fear, he or she may be charged with the California domestic violence crime of stalking. Intimate partners may be heterosexual partners or same sex partners that are married or divorced, living together or formerly living together, dating or formerly dating or that have children together. If convicted, the defendant faces either a misdemeanor, punishable by up to one year in county jail and up to a $1,000 fine or a felony, punishable by up to five years in state prison. Aggravating factors and/or prior convictions help determine whether the defendant will be charged with a misdemeanor or a felony and also help determine the extent of the punishment.

There are certain rules of evidence that apply to California domestic abuse cases that don’t apply to other types of criminal cases. Because the stakes are so high in a D.V. case – one’s reputation, family and career are all placed in jeopardy the minute an arrest is made – it is critical for an individual accused of an intimate partner abuse crime to immediately hire an attorney who specializes in this technical area of the law and who is therefore familiar with all of the special evidentiary exceptions that come into play in a domestic violence case.

“Hearsay” is one of those exceptions. Hearsay is a legal term and simply refers to any statement that an individual made previous to his or her testimony under oath, in court. One’s statement or statements that he or she made out of court are oftentimes thought to be relevant to a case, and attorneys frequently try to admit those statements into evidence in a criminal trial. Under most circumstances, these statements are excluded from evidence, because they are believed to be unreliable. However, in California, hearsay, under certain circumstances, is admissible in a domestic violence case. The most common type of hearsay that is acceptable in a DV case is a statement or statements that the alleged victim made when he or she was either witnessing or experiencing the alleged incident. These statements may have been recorded in a 911-telephone call, heard by a neighbor or friend or made to the investigating officer. This type of hearsay is admissible in a stalking or other intimate partner abuse trial because it is believed that the spontaneity of such statements provides an adequate guarantee of their reliability. In reality, this clearly isn’t the case, as many domestic abuse cases are inappropriately filed based on false charges, when the accuser deliberately placed a 911 call out of jealousy, revenge or anger. However, because the statements will still be admissible, it is up to a savvy criminal defense lawyer to recognize when such is the case and to bring it to the judge and jury’s attention, thus serving to vindicate his or her client.

Because of the highly complex and technical rules (and exceptions to those rules) that apply to a California intimate partner violence case, it is absolutely necessary to have a skilled and qualified California defense lawyer who knows how to exclude or downplay this type of evidence. The exceptional attorneys at the Kavinoky Law Firm have both the knowledge and experience to aggressively tackle any issue that may arise in a stalking case. They specialize in DV cases and have successfully defended countless individuals charged with these types of crimes. When things are at their worst, the attorneys from the Kavinoky Law Firm are at their best! Contact them today for a free consultation and for the best representation.

 

Domestic violence, defined by California law, is abuse that takes place within families, specifically with respect to children, parents and grandparents, and between intimate partners. Intimate partners are both heterosexual and homosexual and include people who have children together, people who are living together or who formerly lived together, people who are dating or were dating and people who are married or divorced. Domestic abuse may take on many forms, the most common types being physical, emotional and financial abuse.

Financial abuse, also known as economic dependence or economic abuse, occurs when an individual exerts power over his or her intimate partner or another family member by withholding or preventing access to money, checks, credit cards, necessities such as food, clothing, shelter and medicine and/or steals from his or her intimate partner or another family member. On that note, if such depravation takes place against one’s own child, a child abuse charge of child endangerment may be filed against the parent. Draining bank accounts or accessing other lines of credit are additional ways that an abuser can financially assert power over a family member or intimate partner. When these types of theft occur, the victim’s ability to find new housing or employment may be adversely affected, which acts as a significant barrier to self-sufficiency and empowerment. Economic abuse is a type of emotional abuse and can leave a victim feeling helpless.

Although this type of economic dependence usually takes place between intimate partners, other family members may be affected as well. If a child steals from his or her parent, that is economic abuse and will be treated as a form of domestic violence. It should be noted that the juvenile justice system is different from the adult system and the child would not be prosecuted in the same manner as an adult offender would. Similarly, a child could steal from a grandparent or an adult could steal from an elder parent, which could be prosecuted as elder financial abuse, falling under the jurisdiction of California’s domestic violence laws.

Financial abuse affects victims in much the same way as any other type of domestic abuse. Victims of economic abuse often feel hopeless and trapped in an emotionally draining relationship. They may suffer from depression, stress or anxiety and may develop significant health problems. Depending on how much additional emotional abuse is being targeted at the victim, he or she may also feel worthless and resort to destructive behavior. Sometimes the abuser may force an intimate partner to assume sole responsibility for the bills, may demand his or her paychecks and/or may force his or her intimate partner or child to commit crimes in order to obtain money. When these types of abuses occur, the victim may exhibit even more extreme versions of the above-listed symptoms and may completely withdraw and/or contemplate suicide or act violently towards others.

People who find themselves being financially abused by an intimate partner may be unable to leave their partner due to a recognized psychological condition known as “battered person’s syndrome”. This syndrome, and what’s known as the “cycle of abuse,” are recognized issues that explain why someone who has been consistently and/or severely victimized would choose to stay in a harmful relationship.

Individuals who are being financially abused should speak to an attorney about their legal rights and should seek help to learn how to safely leave an abusive relationship. An individual charged with a crime of domestic violence should immediately contact a criminal defense lawyer upon an accusation. The experienced attorneys at The Kavinoky Law Firm specialize in intimate partner abuse charges and all that goes along with this special class of crimes. They have successfully defended countless individuals charged with domestic violence and treat each client with the respect, discretion and compassion that he or she deserves. To discuss financial abuse or to discuss a domestic violence arrest, contact The Kavinoky Law Firm for a consultation.

Recanting Victims and their Role in a California Domestic Violence Criminal Threats Trial

California domestic violence laws apply to all crimes where the victim is an intimate partner of the defendant. Intimate partners are both homosexual and heterosexual couples that are dating or formerly dated, married, divorced, living together or have children together. When an individual is charged with making criminal threats against his or her intimate partner, the charge will be prosecuted as a domestic abuse crime.

“Criminal threats” is charged when an individual threatens to commit a crime against his or her intimate partner that, if carried out, would result in serious bodily harm or death to that partner. Whether the defendant actually intended to commit the threatened crime is irrelevant to his or her defense. The only issue that truly matters is whether the intimate partner reasonably feared for his or her safety or for the safety of his or her family.

Because an accusation against one’s intimate partner for making a criminal threat can be made with no evidence of the threat, it would be easy for someone to falsely accuse his or her partner of this crime. When this type of situation occurs, the accuser may later decide that he or she wants to tell the truth about what happened. He or she may incorrectly believe that it will help the accused if he or she doesn’t co-operate with the police or prosecuting agency or “recants” (which means to change, retract or take back) his or her allegation. When an accuser does this, it can actually be devastating to the defendant.

When an accuser decides to come clean about a false accusation, it is best that both partners speak to a criminal defense lawyer who is familiar with the issues that a recanting victim raises. The attorneys at The Kavinoky Law Firm have successfully defended numerous individuals who were charged with domestic abuse crimes, including making criminal threats, and understand the challenges that a recanting victim presents. With their compassion, they can help both parties navigate through the criminal court system in an effort to right a wrong.

Recanting victims allow a prosecutor to introduce evidence that may otherwise have been inadmissible during a D.V. trial for threatening an intimate partner. When an accuser recants, the prosecutor is allowed to play for the jury a recording of the emergency call that the accuser placed to the police, either during the threat or immediately after the threat. The district attorney will also be allowed to introduce statements that were made by the accuser during the police investigation. Since that call and the subsequent statements were made when the accuser was actually in fear or were made out of anger, revenge or some other motive that served as the basis for placing the original call, the tone and emotions of the accuser will undoubtedly come through and will receive undue attention from the jury. In addition, when an accuser recants, the prosecutor will likely hire an expert witness to testify that the individual is recanting because he or she was told to do so by an already abusive partner or because he or she was fearful of what would happen if this was not done. The expert will discuss intimate partner violence issues such as the “cycle of abuse” and “battered person’s syndrome” that will likely resonate with the jury. This is another reason why it is imperative for the accused to have a defense attorney who, at the very least, will hire a defense expert to rebut this type of testimony and offer the many legitimate reasons why an accuser might deny his or her original allegations.

When an individual recants, either because his or her original allegations were false or because he or she is truly fearful of his or her partner, it is critical for the accused to retain experienced legal counsel. The attorneys at The Kavinoky Law Firm know what it takes to successfully defend an individual against the damaging effects of a recanting victim.

Domestic battery is a California domestic violence offense that applies to intimate partners. The offense is also referred to as “spousal abuse” or “spousal battery.” Intimate partners include heterosexual or homosexual couples and those who are married, divorced, living together, have children in common, or are dating or formerly dated.

Battery is a “wobbler” offense, which means that it can be charged as either a misdemeanor or a felony depending on the facts of the individual case. When charged as a misdemeanor, battery carries a maximum of a one-year jail sentence and a $2,000 fine. Even the slightest force, or any unwanted touching, can result in a domestic battery charge. However, if serious bodily injury results (for example, broken bones, loss of consciousness or a concussion), the battery will likely be charged as a felony which carries a maximum of four years in state prison.

A four-year prison sentence is the maximum amount of prison time that a defendant convicted of domestic battery as a felony could possibly serve. The law says nothing about mandatory jail or prison time for an offender. If the accused has no prior criminal history, if this charge is his or her first domestic abuse charge or if the facts surrounding this allegation aren’t too horrifying, an experienced criminal defense lawyer may be able to convince a court to impose probation conditions that don’t include imprisonment.

However, if a defendant is convicted of domestic battery and has been previously convicted of this same charge, he or she will most likely be ordered to serve at least 48 hours in county jail. This is another reason why it is so important for an accused – especially an accused who has a prior battery conviction – to retain legal counsel who has experience dealing with California intimate partner abuse cases. Without a competent attorney, a defendant will definitely serve the mandatory time in jail upon a second conviction. However, a skilled defense attorney will aggressively defend his or her client by arguing that imprisoning the defendant does not serve the best interests of justice. He or she further knows what facts and circumstances will help convince the judge accordingly.

Unfortunately, the judge is not the only one who hears about the defendant’s prior domestic violence convictions. While most criminal cases exclude prior conduct from evidence, domestic abuse crimes are an exception. Evidence of the defendant’s prior acts of intimate partner violence are admissible against the accused in a jury trial. This means that a jury will be allowed to hear that the accused has committed similar offenses in the past and, as a result, they are likely to conclude that he or she did so again.

When facing a domestic battery charge – especially when one has a history of prior domestic abuse – it is imperative to hire a qualified criminal defense attorney who is not only familiar with all of the issues that frequently arise with this charge, but who is also familiar with all of the issues that prior acts of domestic violence raise. The attorneys from The Kavinoky Law Firm have successfully defended countless individuals who were facing intimate partner abuse charges. They receive ongoing education and training in this specific area of the law, which is directly responsible for their outstanding results. When things are at their worst, the attorneys at The Kavinoky Law Firm are at their best! Click here for a free consultation and for the best representation.

Domestic battery, which is sometimes called “spousal abuse” or “spousal battery,” is a domestic violence offense that applies to intimate partners in California. Intimate partners aren’t limited to married couples; they may be heterosexual or homosexual and could be divorced, living together, have children in common, or be dating or were formerly dating.

Anyone who willfully and unlawfully uses force or violence upon an intimate partner can face a battery accusation, which is typically charged as a misdemeanor and carries a maximum of a one-year jail sentence and a $2,000 fine. A defendant can be charged with this offense even if he or she used only the slightest force. Any unwanted physical contact can result in a battery charge. However, if the accuser suffers a serious injury, such as a broken bone, the battery will rise to a felony, which carries a maximum of four years in state prison.

Because of the intimate nature of domestic abuse, most violent situations occur outside the presence of witnesses. As a result, many battery cases are based on “he said, she said” allegations. Eyewitnesses, therefore, play a vital role in helping to prove or disprove an alleged victim’s charge of abuse.

An eyewitness’s job is to tell the judge and/or jury what he or she saw with no inherent bias. Easily said, rarely done. Eyewitnesses almost always have a bias either for or against one of the parties, depending on his or her relationship with each. As a result, the truth generally gets lost in translation.

Because both attorneys have an equal opportunity to examine a witness, witnesses essentially testify for both parties. A skilled criminal defense lawyer knows how to take an eyewitness who is presented by the prosecution and turn him or her into a witness who ultimately helps prove the defendant’s version of the events. Similarly, a good defense attorney will invest time in preparing an eyewitness that he or she intends to “put on the stand” in order to try to make that witness as comfortable as possible with respect to answering questions from both lawyers.

Domestic battery cases are usually based on a highly charged, emotional incident that unfortunately took a turn for the worse. This means that even if there was an eyewitness to the incident, that individual may not have witnessed all the events that led to the charged incident and may not have the accurate back-story on what took place before the charged incident. It is the attorney’s job to make sure that this type of information gets relayed to the jury. The experienced attorneys at The Kavinoky Law Firm have successfully defended countless individuals who faced battery charges. They are familiar with all aspects of California’s intimate partner abuse laws and know how to skillfully examine witnesses in ways that are beneficial to their clients. In conjunction with their private investigators, the attorneys not only interview all witnesses but also check each witness’s criminal history to uncover any past conduct that could be considered relevant in weighing the credibility of that witness. A knowledgeable attorney will effectively cross-examine witnesses in a battery case to bring out and highlight discrepancies in their accounts that may otherwise be overlooked.

An eyewitness could potentially be the “kiss of death” to a defendant facing a domestic abuse charge. When facing a battery charge (especially when there was an eyewitness), it becomes even more critical for the accused to hire an attorney who is competent and experienced in handling witness preparation and who excels in cross-examination. The attorneys at The Kavinoky Law Firm know how to handle various witnesses under a variety of circumstances. Keeping the jury in mind, they know when it is appropriate to examine a witness with care and compassion and they know when it is appropriate to “take the gloves off” to aggressively attack. They are in it to win for their client! Don’t hesitate to contact them today. Click here for a free consultation and for the best representation.

Stay Silent

A California domestic violence conviction can bring probation, heavy fines and even a jail or prison sentence. Because California is so strict with domestic violence offenders, it’s critical to contact a skilled California criminal defense lawyer immediately after an arrest to protect a suspect’s rights during questioning. An experienced attorney from The Kavinoky Law Firm knows how to effectively do just that. The attorney will help ensure that only appropriate questions are answered and that the answers given are in the best interests of the accused.

When arrested on any criminal charge, the arrested party has the “right to remain silent” so as not to incriminate oneself. This is commonly referred to an individual’s “Miranda rights”. Miranda rights are supposed to be read to anyone that the police question during a custodial interrogation. A custodial interrogation means that the individual being questioned doesn’t feel free to walk away or leave during the questioning. Miranda rights basically inform the suspect that he or she has the right to remain silent and that any words spoken may be used against him or her as evidence of guilt at trial.

Exercising one’s right to remain silent or to obtain legal counsel, cannot be held against the accused court. When an officer begins questioning the suspect, it is crucial that the suspect politely informs the police that he or she will not make any statements until his or her criminal defense lawyer is present. Because California takes intimate partner abuse so seriously, having an experienced criminal lawyer protecting the accused’s rights during questioning can make all the difference in the outcome of the trial. A well-trained attorney knows how to intervene during questioning to make sure that his or her client does not answer any questions that will only elicit incriminating responses and also knows how to make sure that the client’s side of the story is told.

Although Miranda rights advise a suspect that any statements that he or she makes from that point on may be used against him or her, the fact is that any previous statements made by the suspect may also be used against the individual in court. One of the most important things that a suspect can do is to remain silent from the moment the police arrive. Assume that everything is either being audiotaped or recorded on video even if there is not a visible recorder. Many times police have undetectable microphones and/or video recorders and everything that a suspect says or does is recorded. Remain silent at all times, even if there is no one else around, until an attorney is present.

California has tough domestic violence laws that include a variety of offenses. These offenses used to be charged only when there was a dispute between married couples or parents of a child. However, the laws have expanded to include disputes between any intimate partners – cohabitating couples, former spouses or fiancés/fiancées, people who are or were dating, people who have children together, and same-sex partnerships. It is the very nature of these relationships that give rise to highly charged, emotional disputes that can, unfortunately, sometimes spiral out of control. It is imperative that when this happens, the accused hires a competent attorney who can immediately begin defending him or her during an interrogation. A qualified, experienced attorney from The Kavinoky Law Firm will guide the defendant through all phases of the criminal court process and will ultimately make sure that the judge and/or jury not only hear the accused’s side of the story, but believe it as well. Click here for a free consultation.

California is very strict with its child abuse offenders and holds people who place their children in dangerous situations accountable in the same manner as it does people who directly abuse their children. Child endangerment may be charged as a California domestic violence crime under one of two theories. In the first instance, a child endangerment charge may be filed when a child is a witness to domestic abuse between his or her parents. It is defined as the abuse that a child suffers while witnessing such an event. In the second instance, a child endangerment charge may be filed when one’s child is placed in a situation where he or she is likely to suffer a serious injury or death, regardless of whether the child actually suffers such an injury, when one permits or causes his or her child to be injured, or when once causes or permits his or her child to be in a situation where the child’s body or health may be endangered. This second area of prosecution has no bearing on whether domestic abuse was occurring in the home, but rather will be treated as a crime of domestic violence simply because the perpetrator was a parent of the child.

Child endangerment manifests itself in a number of ways and may be caused by physical abuse, emotional abuse or neglect. In effect, it is basically any reckless or negligent behavior on the part of a parent that places his or her child’s well-being in jeopardy. Child endangerment is an escalating problem, and the legislature is quick to respond as they continue to update laws, not only to punish offenders with stricter penalties, but to crack down on parents by defining more ways to hold them criminally responsible for their negligent and/or reckless behavior.

Some of the most commonly prosecuted D.V. child endangerment charges include parents driving under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol with their children in the car, parents getting drunk or high while their children are home with no additional supervision, parents entrusting their children to unfit caregivers, parents exposing their children to “meth labs” or other places that engage in illegal or “adult only” activities, parents leaving their children who are too young to care for themselves home with no adult supervision, and parents who expose their children to pornography, sexual activity, and unsecured firearms.

An individual facing child endangerment charges will almost always face the following penalties and, depending on whether an additional intimate partner abuse crime is filed, may face even more. If convicted of child endangerment as a misdemeanor, the defendant faces up to one year in jail, and if convicted of the charge as a felony, the defendant faces two, four or six years in the state prison. In addition to jail or prison time, if a convicted offender is placed on probation, he or she will be on probation for at least four years, will have a criminal protective order issued against him or her to protect his or her child from further abuse, will be required to successfully complete at least one year in a child abuser’s treatment counseling program and, if drugs or alcohol were involved in the alleged offense, the defendant will also be required to abstain from using alcohol or drugs while on probation, will be subject to random testing and may additionally be required to complete a drug and/or alcohol dependency program.

Defense Attorneys for Child Abuse Law

The experienced criminal defense lawyers at the Kavinoky Law Firm specialize in California domestic violence crimes and in successfully defending those individuals charged with child-related offenses. They pride themselves on keeping current in this special area of the law and on the many evidentiary issues and defenses that coincide with DV offenses. To speak to an attorney about a child endangerment charge, click here for a free consultation.

Infliction of injury, more commonly called “spousal abuse,” is a California domestic violence crime that applies to intimate partners. These partners may be married or divorced, living together or formerly living together or have children in common. The laws apply to both heterosexual couples and same-sex partnerships. If an individual willfully inflicts any injury, no matter how minor, upon the body of an intimate partner, he or she can be charged with a felony, punishable by up to four years in prison and a fine of up to $6,000.

Even though an individual faces up to four years in prison for committing this crime, an experienced criminal defense lawyer may arrange it so that his or her client never spends a day in a cell. The outstanding attorneys at The Kavinoky Law Firm specialize in California domestic abuse law. They know the intricacies involved in sentencing, and as a result, can effectively fight to keep their clients out of jail or prison.

Alternative sentencing is just that – an alternative to incarceration. When properly utilized, alternative sentencing can be even more effective than jail or prison, as it usually has some rehabilitative element to it, as opposed to straight punishment. When an individual is rehabilitated, it not only benefits that particular person, but his or her family, the courts and society as a whole.

There are several factors that a judge may consider when hearing a defense attorney’s recommendation for alternative sentencing. An attorney will usually address any mitigating or extenuating circumstances that were involved in the defendant’s case, whether alcohol or drugs played a role in the charged incident and whether the accused suffers from mental illness. Because every person and every case is different, an experienced lawyer will know what facts and circumstances are relevant to his or her client’s case and which are likely to persuade a judge that alternative sentencing is appropriate.

In an infliction of injury case, there are several options that may be imposed as an alternative to jail or prison time. The attorneys at The Kavinoky Law Firm will aggressively advocate on behalf of their clients to ensure that alternative sentencing is imposed when appropriate. These options include probation, either formal or informal, house arrest, electronic monitoring, community service or labor, individual or group therapy for issues dealing with drugs, alcohol and/or other addictive behaviors, and making restitution to the victim when possible. Although this list is not exhaustive, it includes the most popular alternatives to serving time.

When arrested on an infliction of injury charge, the defendant faces life-changing consequences. His or her family, reputation, career and freedom are all in jeopardy, especially if sentenced to a significant jail or prison term. Unfortunately, many attorneys don’t know that alternative sentencing is available. Speaking with a qualified criminal defense lawyer is the safest way to ensure that the possibility of losing it all doesn’t become a reality. The attorneys at The Kavinoky Law Firm receive ongoing education and training in intimate partner abuse law and its penalties, keeping them ahead of the competition. Their reputation for treating their clients with compassion and respect is only surpassed by their success rate. One’s freedom is too important to trust to an inexperienced attorney. Click here for a free consultation and for the best representation.

Prior Convictions and Infliction Of Injury

Willful infliction of injury, sometimes called spousal abuse, is a California domestic violence crime involving intimate partners. These partners may be married, divorced, separated, living together currently or in the past, or have children in common. The laws apply to both heterosexual couples and same-sex partnerships. An individual who willfully inflicts an injury, regardless of the severity, upon the body of an intimate partner can be charged with a felony, punishable by up to four years in prison and a fine of up to $6,000.

However, if the defendant facing an infliction of injury charge also has prior domestic abuse convictions, his or her sentence may rise to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine. This is because California has a seven-year “washout” or “look-back” period for domestic violence convictions. This means that before a court will sentence a defendant who has been convicted of this crime, it will look back at the last seven years of the defendant’s criminal history for specific prior convictions. It should be noted that convictions outside of the seven-year period may also factor into a judge’s sentencing decision, but they do not automatically enhance the sentence as they do when the conviction lies within the seven-year period.

The crimes that apply to this seven-year period include battery (whether or not the victim actually sustained serious bodily injury), “spousal” battery which is actually a misnomer, as it applies to intimate partners as defined above and also includes partners who are or were dating, sexual battery, assault with chemicals or flammable substances, assault with a stun gun or taser, and assault with a deadly weapon.

Any person who is convicted of infliction of injury within seven years of one of the above listed crimes (with the exception of spousal battery) will face an additional year in county jail or state prison and an additional $4,000 in fines above the maximum sentence allowed for a first time offender. A prior conviction of spousal battery carries the additional fine enhancement but no additional prison time. The bottom line is that a repeat domestic abuse offender can face a total of up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine. Additionally, a defendant who has one prior conviction within the seven-year period must serve at least 15 days in the county jail, and two or more prior convictions within the timeframe will result in a minimum of 60 days in the county jail.

Unfortunately, the judge is not the only one who hears about the defendant’s prior domestic violence convictions. While most criminal cases exclude prior conduct from evidence, domestic abuse crimes are an exception. Evidence of the defendant’s prior acts of intimate partner violence are admissible against the accused in a jury trial. This means that a jury will be allowed to hear that the accused has committed similar offenses in the past and, as a result, they are likely to conclude that he or she did so again.

Clearly, an accused facing an infliction of injury charge who has prior assault and/or battery convictions is in severe jeopardy of losing his or her job, family and freedom. However, there are many effective defense strategies in domestic abuse cases. Altercations between intimate partners are emotional, highly charged incidents that can be interpreted in more than one way. A skilled criminal defense lawyer knows that there are at least two sides to every story, and will ensure that the defendant’s version of events is considered by the judge and jury.

California domestic abuse laws are extremely complex, so it’s critical to have an attorney who is experienced in this technical area of the law. The attorneys at The Kavinoky Law Firm are highly trained and well versed in California domestic violence law and have successfully defended countless individuals from the devastating consequences that these laws impose. Click here for a free consultation.