If you think that a lot of domestic violence charges involve one partner striking, or attempting to strike, the other, you’d be right. Often, when police respond to a domestic dispute, they encounter violence in one form or another. However, not all domestic violence charges involve one partner injuring the other. In fact, you may find it surprising which charges are connected to domestic violence. Here are a few:
California Penal Code 591 PC – Damaging a Telephone Line
PC 591 makes it a crime to maliciously cut, obstruct, injure, disconnect, or remove the wires to a telephone line, cable, or electric service, or any equipment connected to those services. When these charges are filed, it usually involves cases of domestic violence where one partner tries to keep the other from calling for help or police. The offense is a “wobbler” which can be charged as either a misdemeanor or a felony. Felony convictions carry the potential penalty of up to 3 years in prison.
California Penal Code 422 PC – Making Criminal Threats
Threatening someone isn’t always a crime. However, if a person makes the threat with the intent of putting their victim in a reasonably sustained state of fear for their or their family’s safety, you could be charged with a crime. Making criminal threats is a “wobbler” with misdemeanor convictions resulting in up to 1 year in jail, while felony convictions can result in up to 3 years in jail.
California Penal Code 647(j)(4) PC – Revenge Porn
Revenge porn is an unfortunate bi-product of the digital age. It’s regarded as a form of harassment, and is a misdemeanor-level offense. Those who are convicted face up to 1 year in county jail and a fine of up to $1,000.
California Penal Code 653.2 – Posting Harmful Information on the Internet
653.2 PC, like revenge porn, is a pretty new law in the state. Basically, it makes it a crime to post or email hurtful information about somebody with the intent of causing other people to harass the victim. The crime is often charged when someone uses the internet to seek revenge on someone else with whom they are in a domestic dispute. It is a misdemeanor punishable by up to 1 year in county jail and/or a fine of up to $1,000.
