Domestic Violence Defense Lawyer in Sugar Land and Fort Bend County, Texas

Domestic violence cases can be very emotional because they often involve loved ones. Even if you are not in a relationship and simply cohabitate or live with a person, you may still be charged under the domestic violence statute. Domestic violence cases usually start as simple miscommunications or minor assaults, and are later used as leverage in civil or family law disputes. Under the Texas Penal Code, one can be convicted of assault if one “intentionally, knowingly or recklessly causes or threatens bodily injury to another person,” or if one “intentionally or knowingly causes physical contact with another person or persons with the knowledge that the person will consider that contact to be offensive or undesirable.” (See Texas Penal Code § 22.01(a)). An assault may be charged as a misdemeanor or as a felony, depending upon the circumstances of the case. If a public servant or elderly individual is assaulted, one may face greater penalties. (See Texas Penal Code § 22.01(b), (c)). More often than not, simple assault is combined with domestic violence and orders of protection. (See Texas Penal Code § 22.01(e)). Any domestic assault - commonly referred to as Assault Family Violence (AFV) - will often be linked to family and/or civil law cases. In order to prevent criminal, civil, or personal consequences, an experienced Houston trial attorney is mandatory.