Domestic Violence Lawyers in Lisbon

If you have been accused of domestic violence, the Youngstown Criminal Law Group is here to provide a strong defense on your behalf. Facing a domestic violence charge is incredibly stressful, and these situations almost always leave everyone involved dealing with intense feelings of anger toward a friend or family member. We truly understand the immense stress and anxiety you are experiencing right now. Our dedicated legal team will do absolutely everything possible to alleviate that burden by skillfully representing your interests in court.

Crimes of Domestic Violence

When law enforcement officers are dispatched to domestic violence calls, it is standard procedure that they almost always arrest at least one individual. Regardless of whether there is actual evidence, a complete lack thereof, or even if the alleged victim explicitly expresses a desire that charges not be pressed, the person accused of domestic violence will still be arrested. They will subsequently have to face court hearings and a variety of other legal stressors. If you find yourself in this situation, a knowledgeable Lisbon criminal lawyer can guide you through the complexities of the justice system.

Today, those accused of domestic violence face significantly harsher consequences than they would have in previous decades. This shift is primarily driven by a societal desire to keep victims safe, but it unfortunately also leads to long-term, life-altering changes for the alleged offender. Having a skilled Lisbon OVI attorney or criminal defense advocate is crucial to protecting your future.

The term “domestic violence” legally refers to a wide variety of actions and behaviors involving individuals who live together or otherwise form a family unit. The actions included under this broad definition encompass sexual attacks, verbal abuse, and physical assaults. Sometimes, alleged offenders are arrested for a single, isolated incident, while at other times, the offender may have a documented history of such behaviors.

Domestic Violence Defined in Ohio

In the state of Ohio, specifically including Columbiana County, there are three distinct actions that will get you arrested and criminally charged with domestic violence. A reliable Lisbon criminal lawyer will tell you that these include:

• If you recklessly cause someone in your family or household to suffer physical harm;
• If you knowingly attempt to cause, or actually cause, a household or family member to be harmed; or
• If you intentionally make a family or household member believe that you are going to cause them physical harm by using the threat of force.

You must always remember that you can be arrested and charged for domestic violence even if you never physically touched the alleged victim.

Types of Domestic Violence

There are several distinct types of domestic violence charges you might face. Some of the most common offenses include child abuse or neglect, domestic assault and battery, rape, sexual battery, menacing by stalking, and violating a protection order.

Domestic Violence Defenses

If you have been charged with domestic violence, you cannot simply assume that telling your side of the story will automatically get your charges dropped. Too often, the version of events that the alleged perpetrator tells differs vastly from the account given by the alleged victim. This is where an experienced Lisbon OVI attorney and defense professional becomes invaluable.

The Youngstown Criminal Law Group will have a number of possible defenses in their toolbox and may be able to convince the court to reduce or completely dismiss the charges against you. Some of the most frequently used defenses in domestic violence cases include the following:

• False allegations – It is not unusual for a soon-to-be ex-spouse, girlfriend, or boyfriend to falsely accuse the alleged offender as a vindictive way to punish them, or to gain leverage to get what the accuser wants in a civil case (such as divorce, child support, or child custody).
• Self-defense – People absolutely have the right to defend themselves, even in tense domestic violence situations. Courts are generally more likely to dismiss cases where the domestic violence was directly caused by the aggressive actions of the alleged victim.
• Lack of evidence – If there is absolutely no concrete proof that domestic violence occurred—meaning no physical injuries, no witnesses, or no other corroborating evidence—the prosecutor will not be able to legally convict the alleged offender.
• Accidental injury – This defense applies when an alleged victim is unfortunately injured by his or her own negligence, or is injured due to other external causes that are entirely separate from the actions of the alleged offender.
• Defense of others – This occurs when the alleged offender did indeed physically injure another family member, but it was done strictly to protect someone else from imminent harm.

Penalties for Domestic Violence

There are several critical factors that will come into play when a judge sentences a person for a domestic violence conviction. These factors prominently include the severity of the sustained injuries, the specific type of victim involved, the offender’s prior criminal record, and the exact underlying charge. Finding an assertive Lisbon criminal lawyer is your best chance at mitigating these consequences.

Domestic violence convictions in Ohio can range drastically from minor misdemeanors to severe first-degree felonies. All of these convictions involve mandatory fines, which begin at $150 and can go as exorbitantly high as $20,000. All convictions, with the sole exception of minor misdemeanors, come with mandatory jail time, which begins at a minimum of 30 days and can last as long as 11 years.

The Youngstown Criminal Law Group is the legal team you want on your side when you are accused of domestic violence. Contact a Lisbon OVI attorney today at (330) 791-8104 for free consultation.