Let's review what you should know if you've been arrested for domestic violence and will appear in the Los Angeles Superior Court.
In my opinion, domestic violence is one of the more common charges filed in LA County, and knowing the strategy before going in is crucial.
I've been doing this now for 30 years. I've handled hundreds of cases in Los Angeles County over the years and achieved many results. I think that starts with mapping out the problem from the beginning.
We have you come in. We go over the situation, and then we decide what the defense strategy is. Sometimes we fight the case, gather evidence, investigate, and get ready to attack the prosecutor's case.
Other times, we realize they've got evidence against you and need to mitigate the situation – get character letters and additional mitigating information that we can provide to the prosecutors immediately to try to help you.
Review of the Case Details
Which of those routes we take is going to depend on your particular circumstances – your case, what happened, how many witnesses they have, and what evidence they have, such as the following:
- Is there video evidence?
- Are there photographs?
- Are there independent witnesses that saw what happened?
- Did you make a statement that incriminates yourself?
- Did your significant other say something that incriminates you?
These are all crucial questions that need to be answered right from the beginning of the case. I encourage you to pick up the phone and call Ron Hedding. Set up a meeting with me, and we'll go over everything.
Once I am on the case, we will map out a plan so you know exactly what we're going to do, what you have to do on your end, and what I will do on my end to get you the best result.
Protective Order
You should know that when you appear in court at the first court appearance in the Los Angeles Superior Court, they will issue a protective order, ordering you to stay 100 yards away from your significant other.
That puts you in a big problem if you and your significant other live together because you may be kicked out of your home. So, that's something we need to start working out right from the beginning to minimize the damage to you and what could potentially happen.
What Are the Common Domestic Violence Charges?
The most common charges that are related to domestic violence in Los Angeles include the following:
- Penal Code 243(e)(1) PC - domestic battery,
- Penal Code 273.5 PC - corporal injury to a spouse,
- Penal Code 273.6 PC – violate a restraining order,
- Penal Code 422 PC – criminal threats,
- Penal Code 273d PC - child abuse,
- Penal Code 368 PC - elder abuse,
- Penal Code 646.9 PC – stalking,
- Penal Code 136.1 PC – dissuading a witness,
- Penal Code 591 PC – damaging a phone line.
What is the Evidence Against You?
Further, we also want to know what evidence they have against you, such as the following:
- Did you admit something?
- Are there injuries?
- Did they take pictures?
- Were the police wearing bodycams when they came?
- Were your statements locked in on video, and your significant other's statement is locked in on video?
- Are there independent witnesses?
- Were your kids there?
- Were any other family members there?
- Was a neighbor there?
- Was this out in public, and somebody saw something?
These are all the things we will discuss as we begin to design the plan specifically designed for you.
I've been practicing in Los Angeles for a long time. You want to get someone local to the courts in LA because they're going to know how to deal with the prosecutors, the judges, the court staff, and all of the people involved in the system.
Pick up the phone now. Ask for a meeting with Ron Hedding. I stand at the ready to help you. We offer a free case evaluation by phone or using the contact form. The Hedding Law Firm is based in Los Angeles, CA.
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