Domestic Violence Charges
Domestic violence cases in real life are not at all like what is depicted in TV and movies. In the State of Washington, if any crime, no matter how small, is committed against almost anyone you are dating, married to, related to or living with (yes, even a roommate with whom you are not romantically involved), it is a crime of domestic violence. Even a one-time drunken fight with your spouse or roommate that did not get physical, but empty threats were made, could subject you to a domestic violence charge!
The State of Washington takes DV cases very seriously, and punishes them more harshly than other offenses. Often times, DV cases occur in the context of messy break ups or other domestic matters, and often are falsely made in retaliation or to achieve a goal like child custody or to get possession of real property. If you are accused of a domestic violence offense, you need an attorney that has experience navigating all the unique issues that arise in DV prosecutions. The Ritchie Firm has this experience and would be happy to stand in your corner to help you fight your DV case!
Often times, civil protection order hearings also accompany criminal DV cases. The Ritchie Law Firm has experience not only handling the underlying criminal matter, but the civil protection order hearings as well. When you hire The Ritchie Law Firm for your domestic violence case, you are getting a well-rounded defense!
Domestic Violence is not its own crime, it is a tag added to an existing crime that enhances possible penalties and attaches other potential collateral consequences. Accordingly, nearly any crime can have a DV tag on it if committed against a family or household member. That said, there are some crimes that most often accompany a DV tag, including:
- Assault
- Sexual Assault
- Harassment
- Stalking
- Malicious Mischief (property damage)
- Kidnapping/False Imprisonment
If you are facing civil protection order proceedings, or have been charged with any crime that includes a domestic violence tag, contact the Ritchie Firm today to start customizing your defense!