Your Advocate When You Are Accused of Violence
If you’ve been charged with assault, battery, domestic violence or another violent crime charge, you need an attorney who will acquaint you with all of your options for preserving your personal freedom and your reputation.
I am David L. Fisher, a criminal defense lawyer with more than 30 years of experience representing clients before the California courts. Contact me at my offices in San Luis Obispo to schedule a free initial consultation about your assault and battery charges.
Understanding Assault and Battery Charges
Assault and battery are often charged together but are really two distinct criminal charges. Assault is the crime of causing someone to fear an immediate physical attack. Battery is the actual act of striking someone or otherwise touching him or her harmfully.
This means that you do not need to hit someone in order to be charged with assault. The threat of violence is often enough to support an assault charge.
Assault charges often arise during bar fights and other incidents where tensions are high and multiple parties are behaving in potentially threatening ways. Assault charges can also be brought in a situation where child protective services has intervened in response to allegations of abuse.
I take a holistic approach to helping our clients respond to these charges. In some cases, taking steps like enrolling in counseling programs, anger management programs and (if applicable) substance abuse programs can help you both in your criminal defense case and in your personal life.
Responding to Domestic Violence Accusations
Domestic violence charges are typically treated as a subset of assault and violence charges. Often they arise from an argument in which both parties participated, and the question is who — if anyone — crossed the line into criminal conduct.
I can defend you against criminal domestic assault and battery charges, and I can also represent you if a civil restraining order is filed against you. This is a separate hearing with its own legal standards. If a restraining order is granted, you may lose access to your own home. Don't hesitate to contact me if you are accused of domestic violence.
