SALT LAKE CITY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE DEFENSE ATTORNEY

Like many other charges in the State of Utah, domestic violence is very broadly defined.  Strictly speaking, Utah law defines domestic violence as "any criminal offense involving violence or physical harm or threat of violence or physical harm, or any attempt, conspiracy, or solicitation to commit a criminal offense involving violence or physical harm, when committed by one cohabitant against another."  That said, domestic violence itself is rarely put forward as a charge in and of itself; more often, it is attached as a categorization to some other criminal charge, such as assault or threatening use of a dangerous weapon, etc.  This categorization, however, can have a very serious impact on the consequences of being criminally charged.  At best, a conviction of a domestic violence charge can leave a defendant with a permanent mar on their criminal record, which may inhibit future employment opportunities.  At worst, a defendant may be required to leave their home and sever all contact with their family and/or “cohabitants.”

Because the consequences of being charged with a domestic violence crime are so severe, it is critical that anyone so charged retain experienced and competent legal defense as soon into the investigation as possible.  Early intervention of a domestic violence defense attorney can stall or even halt police activity which might result in the defendant being separated from their family, and speedy case resolution can enable the defendant to see their family sooner rather than later, if they have already been separated.

At The Law Office of Haynes & Fuelling, our attorneys specialize in defending against domestic violence charges.  We ensure that our client’s rights are respected throughout the proceedings, force the prosecutor to keep the situation in perspective, and fight to keep our client’s visitation rights open, wherever possible.  

When retained for a new case, our first efforts are directed toward rescheduling the client’s court date to fit the client’s scheduling needs, wherever possible.  Our legal team works hand-in-hand with court clerks across the state, and we can generally secure a new court date within 24 hours.

Once an acceptable date has been set for the hearing, we go to work investigating the prosecution’s case.  Our attorneys tirelessly scrutinize the details of the case, ensuring that the police did not overreact to the situation, that they had reliable witnesses, that no constitutional rights were violated, and so on.  If any weakness exists in the prosecution’s case, we identify them, and when found we use them to minimize the consequences of being charged criminally.

If the prosecution proves unwilling to offer a reasonable agreement - if not dismiss the case outright - we begin to prepare for trial.  Keeping the client informed of each development, we secure expert witnesses, prepare transcripts for evidence, hire private investigators, and more.  Regardless of the difficulties of the case, we present a formidable and informed defense throughout the trial process, up to and including sentencing.

Finally, if a sentence is imposed, we present the clients with all of the options are still available to them, from appealing the sentence, to clearing the client's records through expungement.  We never consider a case ‘closed,’ until every avenue of defense and recovery have been exhausted.

CONTACT A CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY NOW FOR A FREE CONSULTATION