How a Lawyer Can Help If You Were Charged with Domestic Violence

Allegations of domestic violence can be scary, hurtful, and embarrassing. They are often accompanied by fear of the unknown and what might happen next.

Even if you believe the allegations of domestic violence are without merit, you must take them seriously. The penalty for a domestic violence conviction can be severe and may include hefty fines and jail time. With so much on the line, you need an experienced team of domestic violence defense attorneys on your side.

Led by founding attorney and former Campbell County Prosecutor Christina L. Williams, Just Criminal Law is a top-notch team of criminal defense professionals who will stop at nothing to protect your one shot at justice. We invite you to contact us today to schedule a confidential appointment to discuss your situation and how we can help.

Understanding Charges of Domestic Violence in Wyoming

Under Wyoming law, a person can be charged with domestic violence for committing an act of assault or battery against a current or former member of their household, someone with whom they share a child, or someone with whom they previously had a romantic relationship.

Penalties for domestic violence range from 6 months in jail and a fine of up to $750, up to 1 year in prison and a $1,000 fine. In addition, a conviction for domestic violence will remain on your criminal record forever and can result in more severe punishments if you are charged with a crime in the future.

What To Do If You Were Charged with Domestic Violence

If you were charged with domestic violence, you must protect yourself and defend against the charges.

• Assert your right to remain silent and ask to speak to an attorney.
• Do not discuss the matter with friends or family or on social media.
• Prepare a list of people who can verify your version of the events and provide you with a good character reference. Give this list to your criminal defense team, who will contact these people on your behalf.
• Save emails, texts, and other messages between yourself and the victim and provide them to your criminal defense team.
• Change your logins and passwords, including social media accounts, email, and online banking, as well as electronic devices like phones, laptops, and tablets.

Defending Against Charges of Domestic Violence

There are two primary ways to defend against allegations of domestic violence. The first is to claim that the allegations do not rise to the level of domestic violence. The second is to claim self-defense or defense of a child. You also have technical defenses available, such as lack of evidence, Constitutional violations, and reasonable doubt.

Not Domestic Violence

A good defense against charges of domestic violence should address whether the actions that allegedly occurred meet the definition of domestic violence. For example:

• Our team can challenge whether the victim meets the definition of a “domestic partner” under the domestic violence statute.
• We can identify inconsistencies in the evidence and the victim's statements to show the victim is not telling the truth, that the allegations were made out of spite or anger, are being used to try to gain the upper hand in a divorce or custody case, or because of a personal vendetta.
• In some cases, it may have been impossible for you to have committed the crime you were accused of. In these situations, our team may present evidence of an alibi or show you were not in the vicinity of where the act of domestic violence occurred.
• Even if you acknowledge that you were there and that the victim was injured, you may be able to claim that the victim’s injuries were an accident. If the prosecutor cannot prove you intended to harm the victim, you cannot be convicted of domestic violence assault.

Self-Defense or Defense of Others

If you or your children were threatened with physical force, you have the right to defend yourself. Our defense team will work to identify and present evidence to show the alleged domestic violence was a response to your partner’s violent actions.

Reasonable Doubt

In any criminal case, the prosecutor must prove the defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. If the prosecution cannot meet this burden, you cannot be convicted. Our defense team can craft a compelling defense that relies on inconsistencies in the state’s evidence and independent evidence that supports your version of the events to prove there is reasonable doubt as to whether you committed domestic violence.

Technical Defenses

In any criminal case, a defendant has technical defenses available. These may include that the police failed to read you your Miranda rights or denied you the opportunity to speak to a lawyer, that you were questioned after asserting your right to remain silent, that the police officers lacked probable cause, bias, or other problems with the police investigation.

How a Lawyer Can Help

At Just Criminal Law, we know that being charged with a crime is scary. We are here to protect you by providing legal advice and guidance, explaining the law that applies to your case, representing you in court, and working to obtain the best result we can. Our team will independently investigate the allegations and develop a comprehensive defense strategy that accounts for the facts in your situation and the law that applies to your case. We will try to negotiate with the prosecutor for a fair resolution. But if resolution is not forthcoming, we have the experience and expertise to take your case to trial.

Contact Just Criminal Law Today

Domestic violence charges are serious and the consequences of a conviction are severe. But you do not have to go it alone. Contact the criminal defense team at Just Criminal Law today to schedule your personalized case review and strategy session.

DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this article is offered for educational purposes only. This information is not offered as legal advice. A person accused of a crime should always consult with an attorney before making decisions that have legal consequences.