If you willfully inflict force or violence on your intimate partner, you are committing battery on a spouse/mate, most often referred to as domestic battery or domestic abuse. Facing a domestic battery charge without the proper San Diego criminal defense attorney is like facing a wall. You will not get far without the help of a skilled attorney.
Simple domestic battery is a form of battery that can lead to an arrest even if the slightest force is used or if any unwanted physical contact or touching occurs between you and your partner. Other, more serious forms of battery include aggravated battery, intentional infliction of corporal injury, elder abuse and more. The prosecution in a spousal or intimate partner battery case will need to prove that you first willfully inflicted the other person, that you did so with force or violence, and that this person was a form of intimate partner.
Examples of this could include but are not limited to:
- Touching your spouse’s/partner’s body
- Touching your spouse’s/partner’s clothing
- Touching something attached to or closely connected to your spouse/partner
Penalties for a domestic abuse conviction include up to one year in county jail, a $2,000 fine, probation, a payment of up to $5,000 to a battered women’s shelter, and more. Of course, depending on your criminal background and the severity of the act, you could face more jail time and stiffer fines.
Luckily, our San Diego criminal defense attorneys are well versed in the legal defenses of battery on a spouse. Our team aggressively works to provide you with the best results possible.