The state of South Carolina has very strict laws related to criminal domestic violence (CDV). Any individual who intentionally causes, threatens to cause or attempts to cause physical harm or abuse, brandishes a firearm in an attempt to threaten violence, or leaves a family or household member believing he or she is in imminent danger, may be facing charges of criminal domestic violence. Multiple CDV offenders can expect to face serious penalties upon conviction, as both the State and the CDV court system view 2nd and 3rd time offenders as being an extreme danger to their families, loved ones and society as a whole.
Any individual convicted of a 3rd offense will be facing felony charges, providing he or she has two prior CDV convictions within the last 10 years. Penalties associated with a 3rd offense conviction include a mandatory 1-5 year imprisonment, as well as the possibility of having to pay extensive fines, be put on probation, complete a court-ordered batterer treatment program and other penalties. He or she will lose the legal right to purchase or possess a firearm. When warranted, the court may also issue orders prohibiting an individual from having any contact with his or her spouse, children or other family or household members that are alleged to have suffered from an act of violence, or threatened act.
If you have been charged with a 3rd offense CDV in Lexington, or any location in the state of South Carolina, you need to take immediate action to obtain legal representation from an experienced criminal attorney. Despite what law enforcement officers may lead you to believe, an arrest is not always indicative of a conviction. The best opportunity you have at getting the charges against you dismissed or achieving an acquittal at trial is to have a Lexington criminal attorney aggressively advocating on your behalf. Having spent years defending the rights of those individuals accused of domestic violence and other criminal charges, the firm has amassed an extensive knowledge and understanding of the entire CDV criminal case process. To get help protecting your rights and defending your future freedom and criminal record, contact the Law Office of James R. Snell, Jr., LLC, Jr. LLC at once.