Spousal Abuse

(FREE CONSULTATION)

* * *Important* * *

If you or a loved one has been or may be charged with a crime, you should retain counsel before releasing any information to the investigating bodies.

Mashney Law Offices has highly qualified and experienced Attorneys who are ready to help you. Don’t risk your freedom or worse on a public defender that you can not trust and whose only interest is becoming the next District Attorney. Call the Law Firm You Can Trust and we will fight for your freedom.

Spousal abuse refers to the violence or mistreatment that a woman or a man may experience at the hands of a marital, common-law or same-sex partner.  Spousal abuse may happen at any time during a relationship, including while it is breaking down, or after it has ended.

If you have been accused of domestic violence, you need an attorney to defend you and your rights. Disputes between spouses, partners, or family members can result in serious criminal charges, including assault, terrorist threats, harassment, and stalking. Accusations of spousal abuse or other domestic violence carry a stigma that is hard to overcome. If convicted, it can not only impact your freedom but cause further damage to the relationships in your family. Domestic violence cases can easily become high-profile in your community, with extensive media coverage. You need an attorney with the discretion, experience, and knowledge to successfully resolve your criminal case and deflect any negative publicity.

Consequences for Immigrants

If you are not a naturalized citizen and you have been charged with domestic violence, a conviction may affect your ability to remain in the United States as well as your freedom. Non-citizens accused of spousal abuse, assault and battery, or aggravated assault of a family member face loss of their green card and deportation out of the country. As your domestic violence attorney, we will carefully craft a strategy and plea that will hopefully avoid the issue of deportation.

At Mashney Law Offices, we recognize the personal nature of the issues involved. A charge and conviction does not necessarily equal jail time. You need to present yourself as someone who is determined not to repeat this behavior ever again. Prosecutors are impressed by attendance of anger management counseling sessions and with effort on your part, we can present other options for sentencing, including deferring the charge or promising to abide by a no-contact order.

There are many different forms of spousal abuse, and a person may be subjected to more than one form.

Physical abuse may consist of just one incident or it may happen repeatedly. It includes using physical force in a way that injures someone - or puts them at risk of being injured-  including beating, hitting, shaking, pushing, choking, biting, burning, kicking, or assaulting with a weapon.1 Other forms of physical abuse may include, for example, rough handling, confinement, or any dangerous or harmful use of force or restraint.

Sexual abuse and exploitation includes all forms of sexual assault, sexual harassment or sexual exploitation. Forcing someone to participate in unwanted, unsafe or degrading sexual activity, or using ridicule or other tactics to try to denigrate, control or limit their sexuality or reproductive choices is sexual abuse.

Emotional abuse includes verbal attacks, such as yelling, screaming and name-calling.  Using criticism, verbal threats, social isolation, intimidation or exploitation to dominate another person are other forms of emotional abuse. Criminal harassment or "stalking" may include threatening a person or their loved ones, damaging their possessions, or harming their pets.

Economic or financial abuse includes stealing from or defrauding a partner. Withholding money that is necessary to buy food or medical treatment, manipulating or exploiting a person for financial gain, denying them access to financial resources, or preventing them from working (or controlling their choice of occupation) are also forms of economic abuse. 

Spiritual abuse includes using a person's religious or spiritual beliefs to manipulate, dominate or control them. It may include preventing someone from engaging in spiritual or religious practices, or ridiculing their beliefs.

Abusive partners may use a number of different tactics to try to exert power and control over their victim. Abuse is a misuse of power and a violation of trust.  The abuse may happen once, or it may occur in a repeated and escalating pattern over a period of months or years. The abuse may change form over time.

If you or a loved one has been or may be charged with a crime, Mashney Law Offices is ready to help you. Please call us at (800) 555-6655 or submit an online case evaluation. This is a FREE CONSULTATION.