Marion County Domestic Violence Defense Lawyers

Ocala Domestic Violence Charges

Domestic violence charges are very serious criminal matters that will affect your relationships with your family members and friends for the rest of your life. You should not attempt to handle these types of charges on your own. Even if you know the accusations against you are entirely false, you need a criminal defense attorney who handles these cases regularly to help you through the legal process. These cases are fueled by emotions and carry very real and serious consequences if you are convicted.

Our Marion County Domestic Violence Defense Attorneys at Whittel & Melton can begin helping with your case right away. We will answer all of your questions and help you start building the strongest possible defense to your charges right away. We urge you to not waste any time and call us at 352-369-5334 as soon as possible to learn more about how we may be able to help with your domestic violence charges.

Domestic Violence Defined

The state of Florida defines domestic violence as any criminal offense that results in physical injury or death of one family or household member by another family or household member.

Family or household member means:

• Family members related by blood or marriage
• Current or former spouses
• Current or former boyfriends or girlfriends
• Persons who are parents of a child in common
• Current or former roommates

There are many actions that constitute domestic violence, including the following actions:

• Physical Violence: Beating, strangulation, shoving, biting, kicking, restraint, throwing physical objects, damaging property, harming pets, kidnapping, assault, battery, aggravated battery, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, and murder.
• Sexual Violence: Forced sexual contact, rape, spousal rape, incest, child sexual abuse, and elder abuse.
• Emotional Abuse: Humiliation, threats, intimidation, stalking, isolation from family or friends, withholding finances, prevention of employment, and any other heavy controlling behaviors that result in fear.

Why You Need a Domestic Violence Defense Attorney

Being accused of domestic violence is nothing to shrug off, even if you know the charges are fabricated. You still need to protect yourself, and our Ocala Domestic Violence Defense Lawyers at Whittel & Melton can make sure to do the following:

1. Keep you from incriminating yourself. Following an arrest, anything you do or say can be used against you in a court of law. While you may think you are helping yourself by answering any law enforcement officer’s questions, you could actually be doing more harm than good. You never know when police or prosecutors will twist your words to build a case against you. By having a lawyer present, you can be protected during police interrogations.
2. Work to have the charges against you dropped. This is actually one of the first steps our criminal defense lawyers will fight for. We will review all the evidence against you and speak with the prosecution to have your charges dismissed based on a lack of evidence or a violation of your rights.
3. Mount a strong defense. It may not be possible to have your domestic violence charges dropped. If your case must move forward, some options might be negotiating a plea agreement or defending you at trial. We will explain all of your options to you so that you can have a realistic expectation of what your outcome could be. We will also make sure you understand the consequences of a conviction. Whatever way your case plays out, we will be there to fight for the best possible outcome.
4. Provide a defense against a restraining order or any other injunction. A restraining order can make your life very difficult, especially if you live or work within 50 or 100 yards of the protected individual. An injunction can also make seeing your children difficult. We urge you to contact us right away if you have a restraining order against you or any other type of injunction stemming from a domestic violence dispute.

Injunctions Explained

An injunction is a court order that places restrictions on a person from contacting another individual. These are usually issued by a civil court judge to stop one person from harassing or threatening the safety of another person. Florida has numerous injunctions, and a restraining order is just one of the types. Other injunctions include:

• Domestic Violence Injunction
• Sexual Violence Injunction
• Repeat Violence Injunction
• Protective Order

It is important to point out that a person can have several injunctions placed on them at once. Once these orders are in place, it is extremely important to not violate them. There are numerous ways to violate these orders, so it is best to have your attorney take over and communicate with the court on your behalf.

Penalties for Violating an Injunction

Violating an injunction in Florida is a first-degree misdemeanor, which carries consequences of up to one year in jail and a fine of up to $1,000. If you violate multiple injunctions against you, then the penalties will increase.

The purpose of an injunction is to prevent a person from committing a violent crime, so a violation of the injunction is a criminal offense that can place the aggressor in jail before any acts of violence are committed.

If you have been accused of violating an injunction against you, our Ocala Domestic Violence Charges Defense Lawyers at Whittel & Melton can help with your case. We strongly advise you get legal help as soon as possible.

Contact Us Today – 352-369-5334

Our Marion County Domestic Violence Defense Attorneys at Whittel & Melton offer a free consultation to discuss your rights regarding domestic violence charges. We are available 24/7 to discuss your case with you. No matter what the circumstances of your charges, we will help protect your rights and work to provide you with an aggressive defense strategy. Contact us today online or call 352-369-5334.