Cleveland Domestic Violence Lawyer

What Is Domestic Violence?

Three different types of conduct committed against a family or household member constitute domestic violence under Ohio Revised Code § 2919.25.

Domestic violence offenses under this statute include:

• Knowingly causing or attempting to cause physical harm;
• Recklessly causing or attempting to cause physical harm; or
• Using threats to make a family or household member believe that they are in danger of imminent physical harm

At Patituce & Associates, we know there are two sides to every story. Our Cleveland criminal defense attorneys are ready to listen to yours. After we have an account of the incident from your perspective, we will begin building an aggressive defense to fight your charge.

Family/Household Members in Ohio Domestic Violence Cases

Under the domestic violence statute of the Ohio Revised Code, a person may be accused of domestic violence if they allegedly caused or attempted to cause harm to a family or household member.

Family and household members are defined as the following individuals who live or lived with the alleged offender:

• Spouse, person living as a spouse, former spouse;
• Parent, foster parent, or child of the alleged offender;
• Any person related by blood or marriage to the alleged offender;
• Parent or child of the alleged offender’s spouse, a person living with them as a spouse, or a former spouse
• A person related by blood/marriage to the alleged offender’s spouse, a person living with them as a spouse, or a former spouse
• Another natural parent of the alleged offender’s biological child

Ohio Domestic Violence Penalties

For most cases, domestic violence charges start off as a misdemeanor; however, depending on your prior history with the law, they may become a felony.

A first offense involving a threat to use physical force is a second-degree misdemeanor punishable by:

• 30 days in jail
• A $250 fine

A first offense involving physical harm or the attempt to cause harm is a first-degree misdemeanor punishable by:

On top of the criminal penalties that are imposed, the convicted will have several civil types of penalties. For example, they can never have possession of a firearm, cannot expunge the charge, and may be subject to a civil protection order.

Finally, domestic violence charges escalate depending on the number of priors that the defendant has. A second, third, or fourth domestic violence can be a felony resulting in up to 8 years in prison. And if you are in the military, or are a police officer, a conviction will end your career.

Our Cleveland domestic violence attorneys protect clients from these charges by always preparing our cases from the start as if we are going to go to trial. We understand the consequences associated with these allegations; however, many defense lawyers do not. Having an experienced lawyer by your side to defend you is critical for ensuring that you have all of the guidance and support that you need during this time. Without a reputable attorney, you may be risking your future and your reputation.