FELONY DOMESTIC ASSAULT
Domestic violence can take many forms. In Missouri, adult abuse can include assault, battery, coercion, harassment, sexual assault, unlawful imprisonment and stalking. Charges of domestic violence — whether emotional or physical — can carry very stiff penalties.
Because of the dynamics involved, domestic assaults are some of the hardest cases we handle at MRD Lawyers.
Domestic assault is, by its very definition, family or family relations. It is much more complicated than a police officer showing up and taking a report. It goes deeper than that. So when we get involved in a domestic assault case, we’re looking at how we can help.
We’re going to deal with the court case, that’s important. But we don’t want you back in our offices with the same thing. If we can solve the problem at home, we can often solve future legal problems and that’s our goal.
Family dynamics play an important role in domestic cases. What might be assault in one instance might be assault in another family. So we look at each individual circumstance and figure out the best solution.
There are rules to go along with criminal court. Sometimes there are bond conditions. People may not be allowed to have contact with those involved in the case. If that’s the case we try to figure out if that’s appropriate, or do we need to address those bond conditions and try to create contact through counseling or other means and those are case-by-case sort of situations.
If you face a domestic violence charge, it’s important you get the best legal representation you can as quickly as you can. Ultimately, our goal as a firm is to help the families involved in these difficult situations as best as we can, and find a good outcome for our client.
DOMESTIC ASSAULT FELONY STATUTE
565.072. Domestic assault, first degree — penalty. —
1. A person commits the offense of domestic assault in the first degree if he or she attempts to kill or knowingly causes or attempts to cause serious physical injury to a domestic victim, as the term “domestic victim” is defined under section 565.002.
2. The offense of domestic assault in the first degree is a class B felony unless in the course thereof the person inflicts serious physical injury on the victim, in which case it is a class A felony.
Abusers can also be charged with terrorizing their victims with acts such as
- Stalking
- False Imprisonment
- Kidnapping
- Rape
- Sexual Abuse
- Elder Abuse
- Parental Kidnapping
- Child Molestation
PENALTY OF CONVICTION
Felonies for domestic assault can range from class A to class E. A class A felony can result in 10-30 years of prison time, while a class B felony can result in 5-15 years. In addition to prison time, felonies can also result in fines depending on the class of felony. A class E will start at a $1,000 fine, going up to $5,000 for a class C felony.