Charges for domestic violence can vary from a city ordinance to a felony. Ms. Chase has tried many domestic violence cases over the years. From this experience, Ms. Chase knows how to investigate and defend these cases. Sometimes, the alleged victim has a motive to call the police and accuse you of a crime. In other cases, the alleged victim is usually the aggressor, but you have been charged. The latter situation allows us to use self defense and tell the court that you were defending yourself. Ms. Chase has seen many cases where the accused is trying to defend his or her property. This is called defense of property. Often times during divorce, a person may accuse the other spouse of domestic violence in order to try to increase his or her divorce settlement. This is not uncommon, and Ms. Chase is familiar with this ploy.
In Colorado, if the police believe they have probable cause to arrest you for a domestic violence, they are required to book you into jail and cannot issue a summons. This includes misdemeanors and city ordinance violations. Once this happens, a judge must set your bond; and you will be given a temporary restraining order in which typically you cannot go back to your residence if the alleged victim lives with you. Furthermore, you cannot contact the alleged victim. The temporary restraining order happens before any conviction or plea of guilty in your case. Although this may seem unfair to the accused, it is important not to violate the temporary restraining order because the consequences of doing so are severe.
It is important to hire an attorney with experience in domestic violence charges. Ms. Chase has many years of experience in dealing with domestic violence. Ms. Chase’s former prosecuting experience has given her the unique opportunity to hear from victims and understand the reasons behind their accusations. She has seen all types of domestic violence cases and has the knowledge and ability to represent you to the fullest extent.
If you are facing a domestic violence charge, Ms. Chase is happy to meet with you for an initial consultation, free of charge. Please call 303-805-5303 to make an appointment with our office.