Facing California domestic violence charges in Santa Clarita can be pretty scary. Domestic violence is a very common charge that can stem from a variety of circumstances – even if the defendant didn’t think what they were doing was violent. Additionally, domestic violence isn’t relegated to one single law, instead it’s a blanket term that covers several charges, including:
- PC 273.5 Corporal Injury to a Spouse or Cohabitant
- PC 243(e)(1) Domestic Battery
- PC 273d Child Abuse and
- PC 368 Elder Abuse
- PC 273a Child Endangerment
- PC 270 Child Neglect/Failure to Provide Care
- PC 422 Criminal Threats
- PC 591 Damaging a Telephone Line
- PC 601 Aggravated Tresspass
- PC 647(j)(4) Revenge Porn
- PC 653.2 Posting Harmful Information on the Internet
It’s pretty easy to see how some of these laws fall under the umbrella of domestic violence simply because of their name. PC 273.5 Corporal Injury to a Spouse or Cohabitant, for example, is pretty self-explanatory. If an individual purposely inflicts bodily harm on their spouse or cohabitant, then he or she could wind up facing domestic violence charges. However, not everything is quite as cut-and-dry as PC 273.5. The next item on the list, PC 243(e)(1) Domestic Battery, requires only that an individual use force or violence against a current or former spouse, cohabitant, fiance, person the defendant does or did date, or the parent of their child. The law does not state any requirement that the victim sustain any sort of injury related to the force or violence. Thus, pushing someone out of the way, grabbing their arm, or even throwing dinner plates at them (and missing entirely) can all possibly lead to domestic violence charges.
The penalties for all of the California domestic violence charges listed above will vary depending on the extent of the injuries incurred as well as the defendant’s prior criminal history (if any). Most of the time, even a first-conviction will net the defendant at least 30-days in jail and mandatory 52-week domestic batterers’ class. Aside from that, the possible misdemeanor penalties include up to 1-year in county jail and a fine of up to $1,000. Felony charges will vary significantly, but include multiple years in California state prison and higher fines.
If you or someone you know has been the victim of domestic violence in Santa Clarita, and you’re afraid to call the police, there is help available at the Santa Clarita Domestic Violence Center. They can be reached at 661-259-HELP.