Lynnwood Assault Defense Attorney

Defending Assault 4 Crimes

Assault 4 domestic violence is the most common DV (domestic violence) charge in Washington state. It does not take much to get arrested for Assault 4 domestic violence in Everett, Lynnwood, Marysville, Seattle or anywhere else in Washington state. While the term "assault" is not defined by Washington statute, case law has defined "assault" broadly to roughly mean "any unwanted touching."

Therefore, if the police are called to an incident and they believe that any unwanted touching has occurred, whatsoever, they are going to arrest whoever they determine to be the "primary aggressor." The police have no choice in the matter, as state law requires that the police arrest the primary aggressor if there is probable cause to believe that an assault occurred within the last four hours. Assault 4 is a gross misdemeanor and carries a maximum penalty of a $5000 fine and one year in jail.

Facing charges for assault? Contact us today to start your defense!

Domestic Violence Assault Cases in Washington

Have you been charged with domestic violence assault in Washington? Cases such as this require aggressive and knowledgeable representation. Domestic violence assault charges are extremely strict in Washington. Depending on the type of assault, defendants can face anywhere from one year in jail to life in prison. Fines can be somewhere between $5,000 and $50,000 depending on the specifics of the case. Do not be un-represented with these types of consequences at stake.

The possible penalties if convicted include:

• Jail time
• Fines
• Probation
• Treatment programs (Domestic Violence Batterer's Treatment Program) at your own expense
• No-contact order
• Loss of the right to a firearm
• Child custody limitations
• Immigration consequences

There are different stages of domestic violence assault in Washington. The stages of assault range from assault in the fourth degree to assault in the first degree.

Assault in the fourth degree is charged as a gross misdemeanor in Washington. The maximum penalty for a DV Assault 4 is up to 364 days in jail along with a $5,000 fine. On top of that, Washington has a mandatory loss of firearm rights if convicted for this crime. Call a Lynwood assault attorney today and let us fight to help you in your case also!

Being convicted of Assault 4-DV can ruin your life.

If you are convicted of Assault 4-DV you will lose your right to possess firearms. Even worse, you will lose your ability to freely travel outside of the state due to the terms of the newly adopted interstate offender compact. You will also likely be issued a no-contact order preventing you from contacting your loved ones and possibly from returning home. Finally, if convicted of Assault 4-DV you may be jailed, fined, and ordered to complete a year's worth of costly and expensive domestic violence treatment.

Due to the serious, life-altering consequences of an Assault 4 domestic violence charge, it is imperative that you contact a knowledgeable assault attorney immediately after your arrest. We have been successfully defending Assault 4-DV charges for over a decade.

What are the Possible Defenses to Assault Domestic Violence Charges?

While domestic violence assault charges are some of the most serious you can face in Washington state, the good news is that for a skilled domestic violence defense attorney an Assault 4-DV charge also presents some of the greatest opportunities for a successful defense.

Often the best defense is the defense that you are innocent of the alleged unwanted touching.

The prosecutor must prove that you assaulted the victim beyond a reasonable doubt. This can be difficult as most domestic violence cases are "he said, she said." The police almost never witness an alleged assault in person as it happens. With all of the possible ways people can be injured and all of the motivations of the other party to lie, proving what happened beyond a reasonable doubt can be next to impossible in some cases.

Another common defense is self-defense.

You have the right to defend yourself from being attacked or restrained. The added benefit of a self-defense claim is that if you are found not guilty by a jury due to self-defense, you may be able to recover the entire cost of your defense including attorney fees and time off work.

Regardless, if you are charged with domestic violence assault you need to see us at once. We need to interview you and begin working on your defense as soon as possible. With early intervention, we will work hard to avoid a no-contact order being issued against you and do everything in our power to minimize the long-term effect this type of charge can have on your life.

Why Call Our Domestic Violence Defense Attorneys?

While many attorneys refuse to handle domestic violence cases, we focus intensely on defending domestic violence in our practice every day. We know the special challenges the prosecutor faces in trying to convict you of domestic violence. One of our Lynnwood assault attorneys, Lance Fryrear, has experience as a former prosecutor and can use this to your advantage.

We also know how devastating it is for you to be charged with domestic violence. As you can see from our client reviews, we will do everything in our power to help you through this difficult event, both in court and emotionally as well.

While we cannot change the fact that you were charged with domestic violence, we give you the best chance at keeping the matter of your record and getting your life back to normal as quickly as possible. Give us a call now and we'll be there for you.