You never thought it would come to this. Maybe it was self-defense. Perhaps your hand slipped by mistake. Or the allegations might be made up. Now, you could lose your house, your children, your freedom, and even more. But you're not alone. Your criminal defense attorney in Redondo Beach, CA will fight for your rights.
Domestic violence means abuse or attempted abuse against a spouse, partner, co-parent, or someone you've dated or lived with. In Redondo Beach, CA, it's usually charged as domestic battery or corporal injury on a spouse or cohabitant, and the penalties range from probation and a year-long class to years in state prison.
Our domestic violence defense team is ready to help with your case. We offer free case reviews, and our phone lines are available 24/7.
Protect Yourself by Taking These Three Steps:
- Politely decline to answer questions.
- Call our office (you can reach us by phone around the clock): (800) 755-5174.
- Do not try to "clear things up" with the alleged victim.
On this page:
- What counts as domestic violence, and the charges that come with it
- How to handle accusations
- The post-arrest process for domestic violence
- What you could be facing in terms of protective orders and custody battles
- Domestic violence and related consequences in Redondo Beach
- Immigration consequences for noncitizens
- Strategies to mitigate the penalties
- How prosecutors handle uncooperative alleged victims
- Different ways our lawyers may defend your case
- How our defense process works
- Why choose the Law Offices of David S. Chesley
- FAQs
If someone is saying that you committed domestic violence, get help now. Talk to our criminal defense lawyers at (800) 755-5174 or get in touch online today for a no-strings consultation.
Reviewed by Attorney David S. Chesley, October 2026. California criminal defense since June 2005, SBN 236611.
What Counts as Domestic Violence in Redondo Beach, CA?
The main definition of domestic violence in California is California Penal Code § 13700. It defines it as causing harm to someone else with whom you have a close relationship, such as a husband/wife or co-parent.
Family law works differently. For restraining orders, Family Code § 6211 also covers close relatives such as a parent, child, sibling, or grandparent. This means that a domestic violence restraining order has different standards than a domestic violence criminal conviction.
Domestic violence charges hinge on the prosecution's ability to prove these three things:
- You intentionally and aggressively touched the alleged victim (and, specifically for inflicting corporal injury on a spouse or cohabitant, that the touching resulted in trauma);
- Special defenses like self-defense do not apply; AND
- The alleged victim is someone you currently or formerly had a romantic relationship with, and/or live(d) with.
Domestic Battery
- Statute: PC § 243(e)(1)
- What it means: Intentionally touching a current or past romantic partner in a harmful manner — regardless of injury.
- Misdemeanor or Felony: Misdemeanor
Inflicting Corporal Injury on a Spouse or Cohabitant
- Statute: PC § 273.5
- What it means: Intentionally causing a "traumatic condition" to a current or former romantic partner: any wound or internal or external injury, minor or serious, including injury from strangulation or suffocation.
- Misdemeanor or Felony: Wobbler (could be a misdemeanor or a felony)
The Key Distinction: Was There an Injury?
Whether or not there was an injury is the difference in what you get charged with: No injury means domestic battery charges, while any physical trauma means a corporal injury charge. In terms of penalties, the maximum jail sentence for domestic battery is one year, while a felony corporal injury charge can result in up to 5 years (though this can be extended depending on your record).
Charges Often Filed With Domestic Violence
In Redondo Beach, CA, criminal court, it's common to face multiple criminal charges at once. Here are some related ones you should be aware of:
- Criminal Threats (PC § 422): Scaring someone by indicating that you intend to cause them harm. This can count as a strike if charged as a felony.
- Dissuading a Witness (PC § 136.1): Attemping to prevent a witness or alleged victim from informing the authorities about a crime or from testifying
- Damaging a Phone Line or Phone (PC §§ 591, 591.5): Cutting or disconnecting a phone line, or taking or breaking a cell phone to keep someone from calling for help.
- False Imprisonment (PC § 236): Keeping another person from exiting a location.
- Assault With a Deadly Weapon or Force Likely to Cause Great Bodily Injury (PC § 245(a)): Using a weapon, or massive force, in an attack that could seriously hurt another person.
- Stalking (PC § 646.9): Making a person afraid of you by following them and threatening them.
- Restraining Order Violations (PC § 273.6): Breaking the terms of a no-contact or related court order.
- Child Abuse (PC § 273d): Willfully inflicting cruel or excessive physical punishment or injury on a child, sometimes charged when a child is hurt during a domestic incident.
- Elder Abuse (PC § 368): Either hurting an elderly person/dependent adult, leaving them in a harmful situation, or committing fraud against them.
- Sexual Battery (PC § 243.4): Touching an intimate part of another person against their will for sexual arousal, gratification, or abuse.
- Revenge Porn (PC § 647(j)(4)): Posting or sharing pornographic images of another person without their permission, in order to cause stress.
Your Next Steps After a Redondo Beach, CA, Domestic Violence Accusation
The below seven steps will help you protect your rights and set your case up for a lawyer to take over:
- Do not answer any questions or discuss your case with anyone.
- Ask for a lawyer, and don't answer questions until you have one.
- Request bail and/or release without bail.
- Read any protective orders carefully and follow all of the applied conditions.
- Collect any evidence that could be relevant to your case.
- Tell your defense attorney the full story. The conversation is confidential.
- Stay away from the alleged victim — it's never a good idea to reach out, especially if there is a protective order in place.
Following these steps gives your case the best chance of a positive outcome. Call us today, whatever charges you're facing: (800) 755-5174.
Redondo Beach's coastal lifestyle and high-density housing near the Redondo Beach Pier create unique dynamics in domestic violence cases, with many filings originating from disputes in luxury condominiums along Pacific Coast Highway. The Law Offices of David S. Chesley appear at the Los Angeles Superior Court, Torrance Courthouse, applying strategies informed by Los Angeles County's specific legal landscape.
What Happens After a Domestic Violence Arrest in Redondo Beach, CA?
Many people don't know what to expect after being arrested for domestic violence. Here's what typically happens after an arrest in Redondo Beach, CA:
- Arrest: After a domestic violence call, an officer who arrives on scene will evaluate the situation and can make an arrest based on probable cause. This does not mean they have to have witnessed the alleged attack — they can make an arrest just for suspecting that an attack took place (PC § 836(d)).
- Booking: You'll be fingerprinted, photographed, and processed into jail.
- Emergency Protective Order: In order to protect the alleged victim, police officers have the option to contact a judge after the arrest and request an emergency protective order. These can go into effect right away, forcing you out of your home and away from the supposed victim for up to 5 court days or 7 calendar days, whichever is sooner.
- Police Questioning: There aren't always interrogations, but you should be prepared for one. Plead your right to remain silent and request to speak with your lawyer.
- Bail and Release: Bail usually starts from the county bail schedule. For many domestic violence charges, including PC 273.5, stalking, and felony criminal threats, a judge must hold a hearing in open court before setting bail above or below the schedule or releasing you on your own recognizance (PC § 1270.1). Your attorney can argue for your release at that hearing.
- Filing Decision and Arraignment: While you're in custody, the police report is sent to the district attorney's office for review. California guidelines require the state to either formally charge you or release you within 48 hours in most cases (not counting Sundays and holidays), according to PC § 825. Arraignments are sometimes combined with bail hearings, in which case you'll be informed of the charges, asked to make a plea, informed of your bail requirements, and possibly issued a new restraining order.
- Pretrial Stage: Your attorney reviews discovery, investigates, files motions, and negotiates with the prosecutor while preparing for trial.
Are You Allowed to Go Home After a Domestic Violence Arrest?
Depending on court orders, not right away. The restraining orders often filed in domestic violence cases can keep you out of a shared dwelling while the case is pending. Even in cases where the alleged victim reaches out to you, it's often illegal for you to respond or go to meet them.
Violating the order, regardless of whether they asked you to or not, can lead to additional criminal charges. Instead of taking the risk by visiting the alleged victim in violation of your order, you should ask your defense attorney about options like a "peaceful contact" order that would lighten the restrictions.
Domestic Violence, Restraining Orders, and Custody
Redondo Beach, CA, domestic violence cases often overlap with restraining orders and custody disputes. A single incident can lead to a criminal case, a restraining order case, and a custody fight at the same time, and what you say in one can be used in the others. Your defense attorney should coordinate all three.
Types of Restraining Orders in Domestic Violence Cases
Restraining orders (also called protective orders) come in several types:
- Emergency Protective Orders: While not automatic, these are commonly filed by the police officer right after an arrest. They give the alleged victim time (5 court days or 7 calendar days) of protection, during which they will often file for a longer restraining order.
- Criminal Protective Orders: PC § 136.2 gives the judge the power to issue a restraining order against alleged offenders while their case is pending. If the case ends in a conviction, a new one can be issued for up to 10 years.
- Domestic Violence Restraining Orders (DVROs): Requested by the alleged victim in family court. A temporary order can be issued the same day without notice to you and lasts until a hearing, usually within about three weeks. After the hearing, a DVRO can last up to 5 years and can be renewed for another 5 years or permanently (Family Code § 6345).
Domestic Violence Accusations and Custody Cases
Domestic violence findings can reshape a child custody case. Under Family Code § 3044, if a family court finds that a parent committed domestic violence against the other parent, the child, or the child's siblings within the past five years, the law presumes that giving that parent sole or joint custody is not in the child's best interest. No criminal conviction is required. A finding in family court, including one made when a DVRO is granted, can trigger the presumption.
These cases are challenging, but there are things you can do to position yourself for success. The court will consider:
- Whether giving that parent custody is in the child's best interest
- Completion of a batterer's intervention program
- Completion of alcohol or drug counseling, as applicable
- Completion of a parenting class
- Compliance with probation and any protective orders
- The recency of the alleged incident
If the family court does not decide to remove the custody of the parent who's been accused of domestic violence, they must issue a statement explaining why they are granting custody to that parent.
Domestic Violence Penalties in Redondo Beach, CA
Learn about the potential penalties that a domestic violence conviction in Redondo Beach, CA, could result in (and similar charges).
| Offense | Statute | Misdemeanor / Felony | Jail / Prison Time* | Fines* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic Battery | PC § 243(e)(1) | Misdemeanor | Up to 1 year in county jail | Up to $2,000 |
| Corporal Injury on a Spouse or Cohabitant | PC § 273.5 | Wobbler | Misdemeanor: up to 1 year Felony: 2, 3, or 4 years (2, 4, or 5 years with a qualifying prior within 7 years) | Up to $6,000 (up to $10,000 with a qualifying prior) |
| Dissuading a Witness | PC § 136.1 | Wobbler (felony is a strike) | Misdemeanor: up to 1 year Felony: 16 months, 2, or 3 years (2, 3, or 4 years if aggravated) | Misdemeanor: up to $1,000 Felony: up to $10,000 |
| Criminal Threats | PC § 422 | Wobbler (felony is a strike) | Misdemeanor: up to 1 year Felony: 16 months, 2, or 3 years | Misdemeanor: up to $1,000 Felony: up to $10,000 |
| Stalking | PC § 646.9 | Wobbler | Misdemeanor: up to 1 year Felony: 16 months, 2, or 3 years (longer if a restraining order was in place or with prior convictions) | Up to $1,000 |
| Restraining Order Violation | PC § 273.6 | Misdemeanor (wobbler for certain repeat violations) | Up to 1 year | Up to $1,000 (up to $2,000 if someone was injured) |
| False Imprisonment | PC §§ 236, 237 | Wobbler | Misdemeanor: up to 1 year Felony: 16 months, 2, or 3 years | Misdemeanor: up to $1,000 Felony: up to $10,000 |
| Assault With a Deadly Weapon / Force Likely to Cause GBI | PC § 245(a) | Wobbler | Misdemeanor: up to 1 year Felony: 2, 3, or 4 years | Up to $10,000 |
| Sexual Battery | PC § 243.4 | Wobbler | Misdemeanor: up to 6 months Felony: 2, 3, or 4 years | Misdemeanor: up to $2,000 Felony: up to $10,000 |
| Revenge Porn | PC § 647(j)(4) | Misdemeanor | Up to 6 months | Up to $1,000 |
| Child Abuse | PC § 273d | Wobbler | Misdemeanor: up to 1 year Felony: 2, 4, or 6 years | Up to $6,000 |
| Elder Abuse | PC § 368(b) | Wobbler | Misdemeanor: up to 1 year Felony: 2, 3, or 4 years | Misdemeanor: up to $6,000 Felony: up to $10,000 |
*These incarceration ranges and fines can be increased by aggravating factors. For example, causing great bodily injury in a domestic violence incident adds 3, 4, or 5 years and makes the offense a strike, and sexual battery convictions require sex offender registration. To get a full breakdown of the potential penalties in your case, talk to your Redondo Beach, CA, domestic violence defense lawyer.
Domestic Violence Probation
California judges follow a legal framework to help them decide on probation requirements in criminal cases. Normally, they have some leeway, but PC § 1203.097 sets some mandatory terms in domestic violence cases:
- 36 months or more of probation
- A criminal protective order protecting the alleged victim
- Completion of a year-long batterer's intervention program
- A minimum $500 payment to domestic violence programs (the court can reduce or waive it if you can't pay)
- Community service
- Surrender of firearms
- No new law violations
You may have heard of a California law restricting probation to a maximum of two years (AB 1950). Under current law, this does not apply to domestic violence cases.
Collateral Consequences of a Domestic Violence Conviction
On top of the criminal penalties, a domestic violence conviction in Redondo Beach, CA, can lead to:
- Loss of Gun Rights: A misdemeanor domestic battery conviction brings a 10-year California firearm ban (PC § 29805) and a lifetime federal ban (18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(9)). A misdemeanor PC 273.5 conviction on or after January 1, 2019, is a lifetime ban under California law, and any felony is a lifetime ban.
- Immigration Consequences: You could face removal, denial of a green card, and/or rejection of citizenship applications. Learn more in the immigration section below.
- Custody: A conviction can trigger the Family Code § 3044 presumption against custody.
- Long-Term Protective Orders: If the court and/or alleged victim choose to pursue restraining orders, you could be subject to them for years, or even permanently.
- Employment and Licensing: You could lose your career while in jail and face new challenges looking for employment once you are released.
- Relationships and Reputation: Your current relationship will likely be strained, and future potential partners may avoid you if they find out about your conviction.
Domestic Violence Charges and Immigration
Even just an accusation of domestic violence can be seriously damaging for non-U.S. citizens, if a restraining order was issued. Under federal immigration law (INA § 237(a)(2)(E)), two things can make a noncitizen deportable:
- Any conviction that fits the federal criteria for domestic violence
- A court finding that you violated the parts of a protective order that protect against threats of violence, repeated harassment or bodily injury, even without a separate criminal conviction for the violation
You could also face deportation or other immigration consequences if your conviction falls into the category of crimes involving moral turpitude. Each immigration case should be treated as unique, as the specifics of your criminal conviction can affect how immigration court treats you.
If you're a noncitizen, you don't just need a criminal defense law firm. You need an immigration lawyer who can help you understand the potential impacts of these charges. Plea deals that seem appealing on the surface can have hidden immigration consequences — an attorney can help you make an informed choice.
Diversion, Reductions, and Clearing Your Record
A domestic violence arrest doesn't have to end in a permanent conviction. Standard misdemeanor diversion under PC § 1001.95 is not available because the law expressly excludes domestic violence and stalking charges. But depending on your case, other options may include:
- Pre-Filing Intervention: If we can participate in a pre-filing investigation conference, we'll argue for charges to not be filed and/or be reduced.
- Mental Health Diversion (PC § 1001.36): If a diagnosed mental health condition played a role in the alleged offense, the judge may pause the case while you complete treatment (up to 2 years for a felony or 1 year for a misdemeanor). If you complete it successfully, the charges are dismissed.
- Military Diversion (PC § 1001.80): If you are a current or past member of the United States armed forces, and were charged with a misdemeanor, military treatment court may offer a problem-solving focus, rather than a punishment focus.
- Reduction to a Misdemeanor (PC § 17(b)): Inflicting corporal injury can be charged as either a felony or a misdemeanor — your attorney can bargain for a reduction with the prosecutor, argue for misdemeanor status at sentencing, or petition for reduction after the completion of probation.
- Expungement (PC § 1203.4): While expungement does not perfectly restore your record, it can help with future employment applications.
What if the Alleged Victim Wants to Drop Charges?
Your case may have started with the alleged victim calling the police and making a report against you in the heat of the moment. If emotions cooled down, they may realize they made a mistake and ask to take back their accusations. Having the alleged victim on your side is a big help, their words can still be used against you:
- The district attorney decides when to drop the case, not the supposed victim. They may try to use 911 calls, statements made to officers at the scene, body-camera video, photos, and medical records. Whether those statements can be used without live testimony is a complex constitutional question, and challenging them is one of the most important tools in a domestic violence defense.
- Your history may be used against you. Evidence Code § 1109 allows prosecutors to introduce evidence of other alleged acts of domestic violence, generally from the past 10 years.
- They can compel your spouse to testify. A married couple ordinarily is immune to compelled testimony against the other, but California law makes an exception in domestic violence cases.
Be Careful: Reaching out to the alleged victim is never a good idea, especially if there is a restraining order in place. If they reach out saying that they want to recant, tell your attorney ASAP. Your attorney can lawfully present the alleged victim's account, file motions against other forms of evidence, and use inconsistencies in the evidence to your advantage.
Defense Strategies Your Domestic Violence Attorney May Use
The defense to your criminal charges may be built on a common strategy, but it should be tailored to your unique circumstances. Illegal evidence collection can act as a valid defense in some cases. Others may depend on an alibi that shows you weren't there at the time. And others concede that someone was hurt but dispute intent or who started it.
Here is a breakdown of some common strategies and when they are applicable:
- False Accusation: If you're in the middle of a complicated breakup, emotions are running high, and your partner might make a false accusation. We investigate the accuser's motives and challenge their credibility.
- Self-Defense or Defense of Others: If you were acting to protect yourself, that can be a valid defense against domestic violence charges.
- Dominant Aggressor: When both people were physically involved, the key question is who was the primary aggressor. Injuries, prior history, witness accounts, and 911 recordings can show that you were defending yourself, not the one who started it.
- Lack of Intent or Accident: PC § 243(e)(1) and PC § 273.5 both require an intent aspect for a conviction. One defense option to explore is whether or not the injury was caused by accident.
- No Traumatic Condition: This defense is specific to inflicting corporal injury charges — if no injury occurred as a result of the alleged attack, the charges can be reduced or dismissed.
- Alleged Victim Recants: While the alleged victim cannot drop the criminal charges, their recantation can prove valuable as a part of your defense.
- Reasonable Doubt: In some cases, rather than building a proactive defense, our attorneys challenge the prosecution's evidence and show that they failed to provide proof beyond a reasonable doubt.
- Alibi: A solid alibi is an invaluable defensive tool — it will present an alternative narrative protecting you against the supposed wrongdoing.
- Constitutional Violations: When a procedural error occurred that goes against your rights, our team will argue for evidence to be thrown out and charges to be dropped.
How the Law Offices of David S. Chesley Defends Domestic Violence Charges
Our team is available 24/7 to get started on your case. When you call, here's what you can expect:
- Confidential Consult: Everything starts with a free, confidential case review.
- Release and Protective Orders: We work to get you released and, where appropriate, ask the court to modify protective orders so you can return home or see your children.
- Defense Against Interrogations: You deserve more than just the same advice to stay silent — we can tell you the best way to interact with law enforcement.
- Defense Investigation: Between discovery, 911 recordings, body-camera video, medical records and our own investigation, we'll learn every detail of your case.
- Strategy Development: Your defense should be specific to your circumstances, not a cookie-cutter tactic.
- Pretrial Motions: While the trial is pending, we'll file motions that protect your rights and fight against misconduct.
- Plea Negotiations: We use our experience with how Redondo Beach, CA prosecutors evaluate domestic violence cases to pursue reduced charges, diversion where available, or a dismissal.
- Trial Representation: Most cases end in a plea bargain, but you have the right to a trial — if you exercise it, we'll go to court with you.
- Sentencing Advocacy and Appeals: If your case ends in a conviction, we can advocate for a lighter sentence and help with appeals, reductions, and expungement.
Why Choose the Law Offices of David S. Chesley for Domestic Violence Defense in Redondo Beach, CA
Our firm has over 50 years of combined courtroom experience. We've been judges, prosecutors, and police officers, and we know where common weaknesses are in the state's cases.
Here's what sets us apart from other criminal defense firms in Redondo Beach, CA:
- Former prosecutors on our team with firsthand knowledge of how domestic violence cases are charged and negotiated.
- Local courtroom experience in Redondo Beach, CA court and with the county's domestic violence procedures, protective orders and probation requirements.
- Combination criminal defense and Redondo Beach immigration services, because noncitizens deserve special attention to their unique circumstances.
- Available 24/7, because domestic violence arrests rarely happen during business hours.
- Results for clients. Our former clients can attest to our dedication to protecting their rights.
In a previous case, our client was accused of committing assault with a deadly weapon and domestic violence for hitting the alleged victim with a car. We examined the evidence of the injury, argued with the district attorney, and were able to secure a full dismissal of charges for our client.
Every case is unique — examples used above are not necessarily representative of future case results.
Redondo Beach, CA Domestic Violence FAQs
Will I go to jail for a first-time domestic violence offense in Redondo Beach, CA?
It's possible to go to jail for a first-time offense, but not guaranteed. Probation is a common outcome for first-time offenders when there was no major injury. Some of the conditions of domestic violence probation are: at least 36 months of probation, a 52-week batterer's intervention program, and a restraining order. An experienced defense lawyer can often negotiate a reduced charge or a better outcome.
Does California consider domestic violence a felony?
Whether or not a domestic violence conviction is a felony depends on the exact charge. Domestic battery under PC 243(e)(1) is always a misdemeanor. Corporal injury on a spouse or cohabitant under PC 273.5 is a "wobbler," which means the prosecutor can file it as a misdemeanor or a felony depending on the injury, your record, and the facts. Related charges such as criminal threats, stalking, and dissuading a witness can also be charged as either a misdemeanor or a felony.
What is the difference between domestic battery and corporal injury?
Domestic battery (PC 243(e)(1)) includes an intentional, nonconsensual form of physical contact that hurts or offends a current or former romantic partner. It does not matter whether or not an injury was caused. Corporal injury (PC 273.5) is different in that the touching resulted in a traumatic injury, such as a bruise. It is also different in that it can be charged as a felony, at the prosecutor's discretion.
Can the victim drop domestic violence charges in Redondo Beach, CA?
No. Even if the alleged victim recants, only the prosecutor can drop the charges. It's always helpful to have the victim recant, as that can give your defense attorney a way to challenge the prosecution's case.
Can police arrest me for domestic violence if nobody is hurt?
Yes. Probable cause for a domestic violence arrest can include the alleged victim's story or signs of violence (like property damage) besides an injury — it does not require a visible injury. Visible injuries often count as probable cause, but Redondo Beach police officers look at the whole picture, not just cuts and bruises.
Am I allowed to go home after release from a domestic violence arrest?
Often not right away. Police commonly obtain an emergency protective order, and the criminal court usually issues a criminal protective order at arraignment that can require you to stay away from the alleged victim and the shared home. Violating either order is a separate crime, even if the alleged victim invites you back. Your attorney can ask the judge to modify the order, for example, to allow peaceful contact.
Will a domestic violence charge affect my immigration status?
It can. According to 8 U.S. Code § 1227, noncitizens convicted of domestic violence, stalking, child abuse, and/or violation of a restraining order are eligible for deportation. The specific statute you plead to matters a great deal, so noncitizens should get immigration advice before accepting any plea.
What diversion options are available for a domestic violence charge in Redondo Beach, CA?
Typically, diversion is not an option in Redondo Beach domestic violence cases, because PC 1001.95 specifically excludes these case types (as well as many sex offenses). However, some defendants may qualify for mental health diversion under PC 1001.36, and current or former service members charged with a misdemeanor may qualify for military diversion under PC 1001.80. Ask your lawyer if you qualify for either of these diversion tracks.
Can a domestic violence conviction be expunged in Redondo Beach, CA?
Usually, yes. After you complete probation, you can generally petition to dismiss the conviction under PC 1203.4, and a felony PC 273.5 conviction may also be reduced to a misdemeanor under PC 17(b). An expungement does not restore firearm rights, and it does not erase the conviction for immigration purposes.
Will a domestic violence conviction take away my gun rights?
Most likely, you will lose your firearm rights. Typically, a misdemeanor conviction does not result in a firearms ban, but domestic violence charges are an exception. Due to the elevated risk factors firearms pose in domestic violence situations, both the California State and U.S. Federal governments have imposed harsh restrictions on firearm ownership for domestic violence offenders. Any domestic violence conviction will result in a lifetime federal firearms ban. California's state laws depend on the specifics of your case: A misdemeanor PC § 243(e)(1) conviction is only a 10-year California firearm ban, while a misdemeanor PC 273.5 conviction on or after January 1, 2019 is a lifetime California ban, as is any felony conviction. These are separate from any restraining order restrictions, which often ban firearm possession for their duration.
How long does a domestic violence case take in Redondo Beach, CA?
The actual timeline depends on the specifics of your case — a general range is from a few months to a year or more. After an arrest, the state has 48 hours to either charge you with a crime or release you (excluding Sundays and holidays). Once you've been formally charged, your defense attorney will work with you to review the evidence, build a strategy, file motions, and negotiate with the prosecution. This takes up the bulk of the time your case is processing, and trials can extend them further.
Can a felony domestic violence charge be reduced to a misdemeanor in Redondo Beach?
Yes. Because inflicting corporal injury on a spouse or cohabitant a wobbler, your attorney may be able to negotiate a misdemeanor filing or plea, or ask the judge to reduce a felony to a misdemeanor under PC 17(b), either at sentencing or after probation is completed.
What if I'm served with a restraining order while my criminal case is pending?
Always obey the protective order, even if the supposed victim changes their mind. Protective orders are a standard part of domestic violence cases, and if you break any of the conditions, this could be used against you in court. Your defense lawyer can fight for the order to be lifted or modified to be a "peaceful contact" order.
Fight Against Your Domestic Violence Charge in Redondo Beach, CA, With an Expert Defense Attorney
It's normal to feel intimidated or overwhelmed when facing criminal charges, especially for domestic violence. But you don't have to face them alone. The Law Offices of David S. Chesley can help.
The Law Offices of David S. Chesley also offers the following legal services in Redondo Beach, CA:
- Sex Crimes Lawyer
- Immigration Lawyer
- Drug Charges Lawyer
- Theft Lawyer
- Violent Crimes Lawyer
- DUI Lawyer
- Criminal Defense Lawyer
Speak with a lawyer at (800) 755-5174 or send us a message to plan a no-strings attached review of the charges against you with a domestic violence lawyer in Redondo Beach, CA.
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