Dallas Felony Assault Family Violence Lawyer
Felony Assault Family Violence
Accusations of family violence are on a dramatic rise. Clearly, family violence assault is obviously a serious problem. However, so are false allegations that can ruin innocent people’s lives. If you’re facing a felony family violence charge, you need serious help. You need an experienced Dallas felony assault family violence lawyer on your side.
Police and prosecutors take felony assault family violence cases very seriously. As a result, felony charges mean very serious consequences. For example, prison time and thousands of dollars in fines and fees are on the line. Moreover, these cases can cause permanent damage to your reputation, career, and personal life. They also can affect important rights like voting and owning or possessing a firearm. Therefore, it is important to immediately contact an experienced Dallas felony assault family violence attorney.
Dallas Felony Assault Family Violence Lawyer
The good news is the prosecutor is required to prove a felony family violence case beyond a reasonable doubt. This is the highest burden of proof in our justice system. Because of this, the court must find you not guilty if the prosecutor cannot rule a single reasonable doubt. This can be powerful weapon in your defense. This is especially the case in the hands of an experienced Dallas felony assault family violence lawyer. Finally, a strong defense can lead to fantastic outcomes. For example, acquittal, rejection of charges, grand jury no-bill, diversion, dismissal, reduction of charges, or deferred probation.
If you have been accused of felony assault family violence or domestic violence in Dallas, contact the Law Offices of Mike Howard. Dallas felony assault family violence attorney Mike Howard will give you an honest assessment of your case. He will thoroughly explain the law and your legal options. Moreover, he will fight for you and do everything he can to prevent the serious consequences of a felony family violence allegation.
Our Case Process
Listen & Understand
Open Communication
Fight for Justice
Assault Family Violence Charges in General
A person commits assault family violence if they assault a member of their family or household. This includes a person with whom they have a dating relationship. Assault is defined as intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly causing bodily injury. Texas Penal Code § 22.01 governs both assault and assault family violence cases.
- Bodily injury” means physical pain, illness or any impairment of physical condition. Many people expect that an assault case would require some visible injury like a bruise, cut, or scrape. This is not, however, actually the case. All the accuser has to allege is that they felt some physical pain. Even a slap, push, or poke that they say caused them pain can be enough. Something this trivial can get someone arrested and prosecuted for one of the most stigmatizing criminal offenses there is.
- Family member – includes people related by blood or marriage as well as former spouses. It also includes people who have a child or foster child together.
- Household member – a person who resides or has previously resided in the same home. This includes roommates.
- Dating relationship – a relationship between individuals who have or have had a continuing romantic or intimate relationship.
Felony Assault Family Violence Offenses
Assault Family Violence Enhanced
If a person has a prior family violence record, the prosecutor can file any family violence as a felony. This is the case even for low level assaults. These cases are commonly referred to as assault family violence enhanced. Assault family violence enhanced is a third-degree felony. These cases carry between 2-10 years in prison and up to a $10,000 fine.
Assault Impeding Breathing
A person commits this offense by impeding the normal breathing or circulation of someone they’re dating or a family or household member. A person can impede breathing by applying pressure to the neck or blocking the mouth. For more information about felony impeding breathing cases, see our assault impeding breathing page.
Aggravated Assault Family Violence
A person commits aggravated assault family violence if they commit assault family violence and use or exhibit a deadly weapon. Causing serious bodily injury during the crime can also lead to aggravated assault charges. For more information, see our aggravated assault family violence page.
For more information about domestic violence generally, see our domestic violence page.
Resources and Information
See Dallas felony assault family violence lawyer Mike Howard’s criminal defense resource center for more information. This includes basic rights in a criminal case, definitions of intentionally, knowingly, recklessly, and criminal negligence. It also includes defenses to prosecution and more.
Defending Felony Assault Family Violence
It really all starts with beyond a reasonable doubt. If the prosecutor cannot rule out each and every reasonable doubt, the presumption of innocence prevails. Therefore, even one lingering reasonable doubt means not guilty. More importantly, this means you don’t have to prove that you didn’t do it. Actually, you don’t have to prove anything! In a “he said/she said” allegation, the only way the prosecution wins is if the jury believes the accuser’s story is the only reasonable way it could’ve happened. This is the highest burden of proof in our justice system. When implemented in your defense by a skilled Dallas felony assault family violence assault attorney, it can be a powerful weapon.
Dallas Felony Assault Family Violence Attorney Mike Howard
Above all, I strive to help my clients through difficult times with compassion and integrity. In Dallas innocent people can get accused, charged, and convicted when they don’t have a Dallas felony family violence attorney fighting for them. I believe in standing up for people facing criminal accusations and helping them navigate all that comes with being thrown into the criminal justice system.
Client-Centered
The cornerstone of my law practice is focusing on my clients as individuals. I start by taking the time to understand not just the facts of their case, but who they are and what they need. Because I know the criminal justice system can be intimidating, I explain the process, their rights, and their options. Client communication is extremely important to me, so I make sure my team and I do everything possible to quickly answer questions and return messages.
Willing to Fight
Most importantly, I am willing to fight a case in court. I have a track record of delivering fantastic results at trial. While not every client and case needs to go to trial, it can make a difference. When your Dallas felony family violence lawyer has a reputation as a skillful trial lawyer who fights for their clients, however, it makes all the difference in the world.
A Proven Track Record
Dallas Felony Assault Family Violence Attorney
O.B – Aggravated Assault Family Violence
Our client was over-charged for an unfortunate incident. We worked with the accuser and the prosecutor to get the charges reduced from a felony to a misdemeanor and avoided a felony conviction. In the end, we got our client a short misdemeanor deferred probation. At the end of that, his case was dismissed.
A.S. – Aggravated Assault
Our client is the one who called the police but they ended up believing the accuser and arrested our client. Police didn’t interview multiple witnesses or look into the accuser’s background at all. We did and we blew his story out of the water. The grand jury dismissed the case.
J.C. – Assault Impeding Breathing
Our client was a world champion professional boxer. He was wrongly accused of brutally beating up an ex-girlfriend. However, the woman had no injuries and looking for a payout. We took the case to trial and exposed her true motives in court. The jury found our client not guilty.
P.M. – Assault Family Violence
An ex-girlfriend was angry that my client had moved on. She set out to ruin his life with a wrongful accusation. We took the case to trial and the jury found our client not guilty.
T.Y. – Assault Family Violence
Our client was a dental student who started dating a dental hygenist student. Over time she became controlling and abusive. She wrongfully accused him of family violence and would not back down. We took the case to trial and the jury found our client not guilty.
O.A. – Assault Family Violence
Our client was a doctor who had been married 40+ years. His wife suffered from mental health problems. When she had episodes she would become violent and abusive. Our client had to call the police during one of these episodes but only wanted her to get help. Unfortunately, when she realized she might be going to jail she falsely accused him of hitting her. The police told my client someone had to go to jail, him or her. Ever the loving husband, our client chose to go to jail. We were able to convince the district attorney to reject the case completely.
Awards and Accolades
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Disclaimer: the information here is not legal advice. Reading this site does not create an attorney-client relationship with Dallas felony assault family violence attorney Mike Howard. If you have a legal problem contact an attorney to get specific legal advice. Nothing on this site is intended to be legal advice or a substitute for legal advice.