San Antonio Domestic Violence Lawyer

Domestic Violence Defense Attorney Christopher Castro

Family violence charges are taken very seriously in Bexar County, and San Antonio, TX. If you have been accused of threats or physical harm against a loved one or close relation, it’s important to understand the severity and consequences if you are convicted. Below we will cover everything you need to know about family violence crimes in Texas.

Remember, You Are Innocent Until Proven Guilty

Unfortunately, police often immediately believe the accuser — and this frequently results in a “guilty until proven innocent” mindset inside and outside of the courtroom. While it may seem tempting to simply accept a plea deal and move on, this decision can have unexpected and lasting consequences.

In order to avoid the worst of these consequences, your first step should be to consult an attorney. Specifically an attorney with experience defending family violence charges in Bexar county, San, Antonio, and surrounding areas.

Next, you will want an attorney skilled in creating a defense, which means they will fight the states charges against you by interviewing witnesses, police records, legal processes, evidence, and anything else. They should be looking for inaccuracies or errors in order to have your case dismissed, charges reduced or any other favorable outcome that helps you avoid the consequences if you are found guilty.

Qualified Defense With Christopher Castro

Christopher Castro is a premier Criminal Defense Attorney in Bexar County. He understands the difficulties a domestic violence charge, and wrongful / false allegations can have on your life. If you have been charged with domestic violence, you can request a free consultation with Christopher Castro, a seasoned family violence attorney with the skills and experience you need to avoid a conviction.

Far too often, accusers will fabricate accusations in order to secure a favorable position in family court issues (e.g., divorce, child custody). And even when some form of violence does occur, an accuser may exaggerate or not be honest about mitigating factors (e.g., self-defense).

Regardless of your specific situation, having legal representation on your side is imperative. Attorney Christopher Castro can help you fight back, and avoid a conviction.

Give us a call today for a FREE strategy session.

Why Trust Christopher Castro to Handle Your Domestic Violence Case?

Skills and Experience: Successfully represented hundreds clients facing family violence charges in San Antonio. He is a skilled defense attorney with a deep understanding of the law.
Defense strategies: He and his team will investigate and pick apart the prosecutors case looking for any reason to dismiss your case, reduce your charges or achieve an acquittal.
Approach: understands the impact of these charges on your life. He works with clients closely, provides a clear line of communication, and guides clients through the entire process start to finish.
Results: a track record of achieving domestic violence case dismissals, reduction of charges, and not guilty verdicts.

Why You Can Trust Christopher Castro To Defend You

When you hire Family Violence Attorney Christopher Castro, you get skill, experience and aggressive defense:

Thoroughly Investigate: Every detail matters in a family violence case. Christopher and his team will thoroughly investigate and examine the entirety of your case looking for flaws in the prosecutors case. This not only includes evidence, but interviewing witnesses, and identifying inconsistencies to build a strong defense.
Allegations: False or exaggerated claims have destroyed many lives. Christopher Castro understands this, and that is why he aggressively fights to not only defend, but expose inaccuracies in the case against you.
Negotiations: He is a skilled negotiator with the experience you need to seek a dismissal or reduction of charges.
Represent You Aggressively: If your case goes to trial, he has the experience, and skills you need for a strong defense in court.

Family Violence Laws in San Antonio

Domestic violence goes by many names in Texas. You may hear it referred to as family violence or domestic assault, and other descriptors may be used depending on the severity of the alleged crime. Regardless of its label, domestic violence assault refers to threats or acts of violence carried out against an individual who has certain intimate connections to the accused. However, “intimate” doesn’t necessarily mean “romantic” in these instances.

For example, accusations of assault directed at any of the following individuals can result in a domestic violence case:

Current or former dating partner
Current or former spouse
Child of former or current spouse
Parent of your child
Your foster child or their parent
Other adoptive and blood relatives
Roommate

Clearly, not all of these fit the traditional definition of domestic violence. Rather than simply focusing on issues between romantic partners, Texas domestic assault laws are meant to protect family members, current or former romantic partners, and even household members of the accused. Once charged, a person could face a misdemeanor or felony — depending on the underlying circumstances of their case.

A “Class C” misdemeanor charge will result in no more than a year in jail and a fine. However, some who are accused of abuse end up facing first-degree felony charges — which can lead to decades in prison. Regardless of the charges against you, an attorney with domestic abuse experience can help you fight back.

Consequences Of A Family Violence Conviction In Bexar County

Your charge can range from a Class A misdemeanor to a first-degree felony. The degree of your charge will be based upon the severity of your case. Below are the penalties and fines you will be facing.

Assault Causing Bodily Injury to a Family Member is a
- Class A Misdemeanor
- up to 1 year in jail and up to $4,000 in fines.
Assault by Impeding Breathe or Choking of a Family Member is a
- Third-Degree Felony
- 2 to 10 years in prison and up to a $10,000 fine.
Assault of Family Member With Prior Assault is a
- Second-Degree Felony
- 2 to 20 Years in prison and up to a $10,000 fine
Assault of Family Member twice in 12 moths is a
- First-Degree Felony
- 2 to 10 Years in prison and up to a $10,000 fine

What Happens When You’re Accused of Domestic Violence?

A Criminal defense strategy for someone accused of domestic abuse can look very different depending on the circumstances of their situation. For example, a boyfriend accused of choking his partner could face far more severe penalties than a girlfriend accused of slapping her partner.

These differences are sometimes by design, but in other cases, they are often due to outdated thinking that always views a particular party as guilty.

Regardless of the specific factors of a family violence case, you can typically expect the following if you have charges filed against you:

Arrest: Texas law enforcement officers are required to make an arrest when domestic violence allegations are made.
Booking: The accused will be booked into a local jail after being arrested. It’s at this point that they should contact an attorney in the area (San Antonio)
Protective order: An emergency protective order will typically be issued at this point.
Charging decision: Prosecutors will need to review the evidence and make a charging decision.
Arraignment: If prosecutors decide to charge, the accused will be formally informed of this during the arraignment.
Pretrial proceedings: This step is for gathering evidence, addressing legal issues, and negotiating plea deals.
Trial: When no plea deal is reached or charges dismissed, the accused will have to stand trial.

Clearly, things will get very difficult for anyone accused of threatening or harming an alleged victim. Unfortunately, this is often the underlying goal when false allegations are made. Dating violence and other forms of abuse are very serious, and this means that a simple accusation can harm a person’s reputation. If you’ve found yourself facing such wrongful allegations — or if you need help ensuring the truth comes out — our San Antonio domestic abuse defense lawyers are here to help.

Defending Domestic Violence Charges

Whether you’re accused of hitting your ex, abusing children, using a deadly weapon against a roommate, or any other threat or act of violence, it’s important to remember that defenses are available. While the stigma of an allegation may last some time, an accusation does not mean a person is guilty.

Always remember, anyone can discuss potential defense strategies, but it takes skill, knowledge and experience to make the effective. If you’ve been accused of domestic abuse against someone, we can review the following defenses to help you avoid a conviction:

Actions were unintentional or a mistake
Self-defense or defense of property
Lack of knowledge
No offense occurred (e.g., false allegations)
There was consent (e.g., “rough” intimate relations)
Mistaken identity
Involuntary intoxication
Constitutional violations

By highlighting these issues in pre-trial proceedings, it may be possible to get charges dismissed or secure a plea deal with nothing more than probation.

Family violence defense attorney Christopher Castro can help you create and deploy a defense while negotiating with the prosecutors. If a plea deal is not possible, he can maneuver to find other opportunities to help you achieve a case win.

Contact a Qualified Domestic Abuse Lawyer in San Antonio, TX

Our criminal defense attorneys are committed to securing a favorable outcome on your behalf. Such outcomes can take many different forms. For instance, a “win” in your case could mean all charges dismissed or securing a not-guilty verdict. When this isn’t possible, though, a “win” could simply mean avoiding jail time. During your consultation, our attorneys will review your case and help you understand your options and possible outcomes.

Domestic Violence Lawyer San Antonio, TX