Legal Representation for Criminal Defendants in Auburn WA
Auburn is a suburb of the Seattle Metropolitan Area, which is located in both King County and Pierce County, Washington. Since it is in a fertile river valley, some of the earliest settlers of King County lived there. It was popular to farm hops in Auburn until aphids invaded the area in 1890. The city grew in part becauseof the railroad, and the land was converted to industrial use in the latter half of the 20th century. Nowadays, however, there are still about 247 acres of open space in Auburn. The FBI has reported that in 2012, Auburn saw 248 violent crimes as well as 3,985 property crimes per 100,000 residents. A percentage of these incidents occurred within families or households and are considered domestic violence in the state of Washington. If you are charged with this offense in the Auburn area, experienced criminal defense attorneys at Vindicate Criminal Law Groupcan help you fight the charges.
Facing Prosecution for Domestic Violence
Domestic violence is a statutory designation that can be applied in a wide range of crimes, rather than being an independent crime in and of itself. If this classification is applied, a case may become significantly complicated and involve additional consequences forthe alleged perpetrator even before he or she is convicted. The designation may be applied to crimes such as assault, criminal mischief, or telephone harassment when the victim and perpetrator have a household or family relationship. Although most people associate domestic violence with married partners, “family relationship” is defined very broadly under RCW 10.99.020 and RCW 26.50.010. The designation can apply even when the perpetrator and victim are teenagers who have had a dating relationship in the past.
Many different outcomes are possible in a domestic violence assault case. With the help of an experienced attorney, the charges may be dismissed with prejudice by the prosecutor or negotiated down with an agreement to plead guilty. Another possible outcome is for the defendant to enter a Stipulated Order of Continuance, which is a contract with the prosecution. If the defendant follows the terms of the agreement, the state will move to dismiss the case after the period of the agreement.
There can be drawbacks to Stipulated Orders of Continuance, such as an almost automatic finding of guilt if the defendant does not meet the conditions. Commonly, the conditions include that the defendant undergo participation in a state-approved domestic violence treatment program. They may also include mandated participation in an alcohol treatment program. Some prosecutors or courts may require a no contact order to be put in place until the perpetrator has completed some counseling. In cases where a no contact order is imposed, a violation of the order can result in the Stipulated Order of Continuance being revoked. This in turn can result in an automatic finding of guilt on the domestic violence charge.
Discuss Your Charges with an Auburn Attorney
Police officers in Washington do not have discretion over whether they arrest someone whom they believe has been the aggressor in an incident of domestic violence assault. This means that even a 911 call or statements made for the wrong reasons can result in very serious consequences. The legal penalties and social stigma following a conviction are substantial. This means that accusations of domestic violence in Auburn can change your family forever, so it is important to work with a lawyer whom you can trust.Vindicate Criminal Law Group maybe able to get the charges dismissed or negotiated down to lesser charges, or even take your case to trial before a jury and win. Contact us today for your confidential case evaluation, or call (888) 212-4824.