Plano, Texas Domestic Violence Defense Attorney

Lawyer Representing Clients Accused of Family Violence in Collin County and Dallas County

When family members, spouses, or dating partners fight, sometimes the police become involved and criminal charges are filed. Domestic violence, or family violence, is taken very seriously by Texas courts. Prosecutors often pursue the maximum criminal penalty possible when a defendant is accused of a crime involving violence against a family member.

If you have been accused of a crime related to domestic violence, you should speak to a Plano criminal defense attorney . The Crowder Law Firm P.C. has the knowledge and resources to help give you the best possible defense against domestic violence accusations. Attorney Darlina Crowder has obtained more than 300 acquittals and not-guilty verdicts for her clients in the past, and she is prepared to use her vast experience to help you fight domestic violence accusations.

Defining "Domestic" With Regard to Domestic Violence

The term domestic violence is used to describe violent actions committed against certain family members or romantic partners. These can include:

• Family members related by blood, adoption, or marriage;
• Household members;
• Current and former spouses;
• Current and former dating partners;
• Children from a current or former marriage; and
• Foster children and foster parents.

Crimes against children are often punished much more harshly than crimes committed against other adults.

Crimes Related to Domestic Violence and Abuse

Under Texas law, there are three different crimes related to domestic violence: domestic assault, aggravated domestic assault, and continuous violence against the family. Domestic assault occurs when a person assaults someone with whom he or she has a domestic relationship. The offense of domestic assault can include:

• Purposely, knowingly, or recklessly causing physical injury to a person with whom you have a domestic relationship;
• Deliberately threatening imminent bodily injury to a person with whom you have a domestic relationship; or
• Physically contacting a person with whom you have a domestic relationship in a provocative or offensive way.

If a defendant accused of domestic assault has no prior domestic assault convictions, the crime will likely be considered a Class A misdemeanor offense. Misdemeanor domestic assault is one of the few misdemeanor offenses a police officer does not have to actually witness in order to arrest someone for. A misdemeanor domestic violence conviction carries penalties including up to one year in jail and a fine of up to $4,000. If the defendant has previously been convicted of domestic assault, the crime is elevated to a third-degree felony punishable by a fine of up to $10,000 and two to ten years in prison.

An individual who has committed two domestic assaults in the past year can be convicted of "continuous violence against the family." This is also a third-degree felony offense which carries up to ten years of imprisonment.

Domestic assault is elevated to "aggravated domestic assault" when the assault causes serious bodily injury to the victim or when the person accused of assault uses a deadly weapon during the assault. In some cases, a defendant may face up to 99 years in prison for aggravated domestic assault.

Contact Us for a Free Case Consultation

If you have been accused of domestic violence, domestic assault, or continuous family violence, you could be facing many years in prison. Contact The Crowder Law Firm P.C. to learn about your options for moving forward and how to build the best defense possible against these charges. Call 214-544-0061 to schedule a free, confidential consultation. We serve clients in Dallas, Fort Worth, Plano, Garland, McKinney, Denton, Frisco, and the surrounding areas. Se habla Español.