Did you know that, in many jurisdictions, police are required to take both parties of a domestic violence call to the jail?
That’s two mugshots.
Two reputations ruined.
“They both had marks consistent with striking,” the police may say. “Therefore, we will let the courts decide who was responsible.”
What if you are not guilty. What if you were defending yourself against the other party? Of course, the other party would have marks on them.
Again, while a court may clear you of wrongdoing, the court of public opinion has already formed a judgment.
It happened to UFC fighter Nick Diaz after an ex-girlfriend accused him of domestic violence. The police listed her injuries as severe and charged Diaz harshly.
Throughout the investigation, the alleged victim gave multiple inconsistent versions of what happened, even giving a Grand Jury an entirely new story of the incident.
The Grand Jury declined to pursue the case, citing a lack of probable cause. The district attorney’s office also declined to pursue the matter further.
Domestic violence can happen to anyone and is one of the most horrific crimes that can be committed. It can quickly escalate and rip families apart. Those who commit domestic violence should be charged and prosecuted.
But those who are falsely accused deserve to have a fair hearing.
Anyone can claim domestic abuse or violence against you and those claims could land you in jail.
We live in a time where, rightfully so, wrongdoing of all sorts gets attention. Social media has made people more comfortable reporting their abuse stories.
It has also allowed false claims to garner attention. This story of an NBA player tells us that false charges do have consequences. Dante Cunningham played for the Minnesota Timberwolves. His contract was not renewed for another season, even though the case was still ongoing. He was arrested again for violating a restraining order because the alleged victim said he sent threatening messages to her via Skype.
He was eventually cleared of wrongdoing. There was a lack of evidence, and it seems the accuser made the whole story up.
Those messages through Skype?
She sent them to herself.
If you find yourself in a situation where you have been charged with domestic violence, we know you will be confused about what to do next. You absolutely need to secure skilled legal representation. Do not rely on a public defender for something like this.
Both men and women are often falsely accused of domestic violence. Maybe a spouse is mad at their partner or an ex-boyfriend or girlfriend is looking to get revenge after a bad breakup.
A false domestic abuse charge should not ruin your life.
When you need a domestic violence defense attorney in Los Angeles, you can count on the team at Okabe & Haushalter. We will ensure that we have your back against malicious prosecution attempts. Contact us today by clicking here or calling 310-430-7799 for a free consultation.