Domestic Violence Lawyer St. Louis, MO. We understand that while many St. Louis families are happy and get along well with each other, there are many others that are going through tough times. Domestic disputes and incidents have generated substantial media attention over the years, which has led to states increasing the penalties against those convicted of domestic assaults. Missouri is certainly part of this movement and has heavily bolstered existing laws regarding things like orders of protection and other restrictions.
Combs Law Group understands that St. Louis domestic disputes are highly complex situations and in many cases there are no truly innocent parties in a dispute. If you have been charged with domestic assault, spousal abouse, domestic disturbance, or any other domestic charge, contact a criminal defense law firm in St. Louis and Missouri that listens to their clients and develops an aggressive defense strategy for their unique situation. Call us at (314) 900-HELP to speak confidentially with an attorney about your case. We promise that you will work with an attorney who will understand your situation and determine the best course of action to take against the other party.
Every Domestic Violence Case in Missouri Is Different
It is a sad fact of life that many relationships in St. Louis deteriorate over time and one or both parties can lash out at each other. Usually in Missouri, one or both parties can take out an order of protection against the other. While these orders can be quite broad (they can be taken out against children as well as adults, and last for a minimum of 180 days), in Missouri they can only be entered against a “household or family member”, or any accused abuser that has been in an intimate relationship with the person requesting the order, according to Missouri RS 455.010. Stalking is an exception to this requirement.
Most protection orders generally prohibit contact between the respondent (the term in Missouri for those who have had an order of protection taken out against them) and the alleged victim. This includes a ban on going to their home, workplace, or school, and a prohibition on contacting the other person in any way. The penalties for violating one of these orders vary from fines to time in jail, or potentially having your bail revoked and sent back into custody.
Missouri domestic violence law can be found here. The definitions for “domestic assault” are largely the same as regular Missouri statutes regarding simple assault, but with several penalty enhancements:
- Fourth-degree domestic assaults are usually classified as a class A misdemeanor (punishable by up to a year in jail and a maximum $2,000 fine). However, if someone has been previously convicted of domestic assault twice before, this charge can be upgraded to a class E felony, which carries up to a four-year prison sentence.
- Third-degree domestic assault is a class E felony, which as mentioned above can mean up to four years in state prison.
- Second-degree domestic assault is a class D felony, punishable by up to seven years in prison and a $10,000 fine
- First-degree domestic assault is reserved for “attempting to kill, knowingly causing, or attempting to cause serious physical injury” to a domestic victim. The base penalty for this is a class B felony (5-15 years in prison), but if “serious physical injury” is inflicted the charge can be upgraded to a class A felony (10-30 years, or potentially life imprisonment).
Those convicted of domestic violence charges also face additional penalties above and beyond a court sentence. Federal law stipulates that anyone convicted of a domestic violence offense, even if it is a misdemeanor, cannot legally possess a firearm. This goes above and beyond Missouri state regulations, which bar gun ownership only if someone is a convicted felon.
Contact An Experienced St. Louis, Missouri Domestic Violence Attorney
Combs Law Group, a top-rated St. Louis criminal defense law firm, understands that domestic violence is often times a criminal charge that stirs up a large amount of emotion on all sides. St. Louis judges and prosecutors will often times take a personal involvement in domestic violence cases and attempt to get the couple to resolve their differences. In addition, it is not uncommon for spurious St. Louis domestic violence charges to be filed by either party currently in the midst of a divorce or separation, as these can influence custody, property, or other aspects of a divorce case.
As premier St. Louis domestic violence attorneys, Combs Law Group knows all about what these sorts of accusations can do to someone’s reputation. Our firm fights fiercely to investigate all facets of your St. Louis domestic violence case and obtain the best possible outcome. Contact us today to schedule a free, confidential case review with one of our attorneys.