Bay Area Domestic Violence Lawyers
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This offense is a misdemeanor, and the maximum penalties include:
The court also has the option of granting probation, or suspending the imposition of a jail sentence. However, the Code specifies that if the judge makes that decision, then there must be a condition that the defendant participate in and successfully complete a ‘batterer’s treatment program’ for at least one year (or more). If there is no such program available, the court can specify another suitable program.
If you are facing a charge of domestic battery under California Penal Code 243(e)(1), the Prosecutor will need evidence to prove the following elements beyond reasonable doubt:
An act is done ‘willfully’ when it is done willingly, or on purpose. So, you cannot be guilty of this offense if the touching was an accident. However, even slight touching can be enough to commit a battery is it is done in a way that is harmful or offensive – for example, done in a rude or angry manner. Further, the touching can be through the other person’s clothing, or by using an object, and it does not have to cause physical pain or injury of any kind.
For example, imagine a husband and wife are having an argument in the kitchen while the wife is washing the dishes. She picks up a rolling pin and holds it against the side of her husband’s head, which does not hurt him at all, but says, “If you don’t shut up, I’m going to knock your head in”. That kind of touching is both willful and offensive, and would satisfy this element of the offense of domestic battery.
Because this charge relates to battery of someone with whom the defendant is in a domestic relationship with, the Prosecutor must prove that relationship. The kinds of relationship that offense applies to are as follows:
‘Cohabitants’ does not simply mean people who live together – for example, you cannot be charged with domestic battery on your roommate. The law provides that a cohabiting relationship refers to “two unrelated persons living together for a substantial period of time, resulting in some permanency of the relationship.”[10] Several factors can be used to determine if a cohabiting relationship exists, or existed, including:
‘Dating relationship’ means “frequent, intimate associations primarily characterized by the expectation of affection or sexual involvement independent of financial considerations.”[11]
The Prosecutor only has to prove this element in cases where the defendant raises the issue of self-defense – this is, where the defendant admits to touching the other person, but argues that they did so to defend themselves or someone else. Summit Defense has defended many cases where someone was accused of domestic battery when they were actually acting in self-defense. We explain more about how this defense can be used in domestic violence cases, below.
For example, consider the scenario above where the wife is holding the rolling pin to her husband’s head. The husband then pushes his wife’s hand away forcefully. If the husband was actually afraid that his wife would hurt him with the rolling pin, he would likely be able to argue that, when he pushed her hand away, he was acting in self-defense – and, therefore, not guilty of domestic battery.
Domestic Battery is a misdemeanor offense. There is no minimum jail specified which means there is usually no jail time in the initial sentence imposed. The maximum penalty is 6 months in county jail.
The minimum sentence for a domestic battery conviction is 3 years of court probation, 52 weeks of Anger Management courses as well as some form of protective order and fines.
Usually. The most important aggravating factor to a battery charge is the extent of the injuries inflicted. However, a domestic battery charge is generally considered more serious than battery on a non-domestic partner.
Domestic battery related to an offensive touching of a domestic partner. Aggravated battery
relates to the extent of injuries allegedly inflicted.
Yes. There are many defenses to Domestic Battery including self-defense, defense of others as well as other mitigating factors such as the alleged victim was the primary aggressor.