Silver Spring, Maryland Domestic Violence Attorney

Lawyer Defending Against Charges Involving Domestic Violence in Silver Spring

There are many situations where people may be accused of domestic violence. Arguments or misunderstandings between family members could cause someone to call the police, who may decide to arrest the person they believe to be the aggressor in a situation. A person may face accusations of child abuse or spousal abuse during a high-conflict divorce or child custody case. The criminal charges in these cases can be serious, and a conviction can have long-lasting effects on the lives of a person and their family members.

Cases involving charges of domestic violence can be complicated. They may involve differing accounts of what happened or false accusations. A person may need to respond to investigations by Child Protective Services, or they may face a protective order that could limit where they can go or whether they can communicate with their family members. At the Law Offices of Mallon Snyder, our lawyer can provide the legal help needed during these cases. He will provide guidance on the steps a person can take to protect their rights while building a defense strategy that will help to minimize the effects of domestic violence accusations.

What Qualifies as Domestic Violence in Maryland

Domestic violence may include multiple types of conduct involving people who share a qualifying relationship. Accusations of violence against family or household members may involve current and former spouses, parents who share one or more children, relatives through blood or marriage, people who live together in the same home, and people who are dating or who dated each other in the past. Arrests and criminal charges may be based on allegations of offenses such as:

Physical Assault

Domestic violence may involve physical contact, including hitting, pushing, slapping, choking, or physically harming someone. Accusations that a person has engaged in these types of actions could lead to charges of assault. The severity of these charges may depend on whether the alleged actions resulted in injuriesor whether a person allegedly threatened to harm a family member or made provocative contact with them.

Stalking and Harassment

Charges of stalking may apply if a person is accused of acting in a way that caused another person to experience fear or emotional distress. Other actions that caused someone to become alarmed or annoyed could result in charges of harassment. These offenses may be considered domestic violence if they involved a qualifying family or household member.

Revenge Pornography

In some cases, a person may face accusations of distributing private visual images of another person without that person's consent. This is sometimes referred to as revenge pornography, since it may involve a person who is taking actions that are intended to cause emotional distress or reputational harm for a current or former romantic partner.

Malicious Destruction of Property

When a domestic dispute results in damage to property, a person may be charged with the offense of malicious destruction of property. These cases may involve broken phones, damaged furniture, or other destroyed belongings, and they could lead to domestic violence accusations in addition to criminal charges.

False Imprisonment

Confining another person against their will and without the authority to do so may be considered false imprisonment. If a person is accused of preventing a family or household member from leaving a home, vehicle, or other location during a dispute, they could be charged with this offense.

Responding to Domestic Violence Accusations

Our attorney can help clients understand the best ways to handle criminal charges involving domestic violence and address other related legal issues. When a client comes to us, we begin by listening to their account of what happened, taking time to understand the circumstances of their relationship, and discussing their concerns about what may happen during their case. As we determine how to defend against criminal charges, our approach may include:

Early Intervention

After an accusation of domestic violence, we can take steps to help a person protect their rights. When police officers or other officials investigate the situation, we can communicate with them on our client's behalf, providing information about what happened and taking steps to help prevent criminal charges from being filed, if possible. If an arrest has already been made, we can help clients take steps to secure a release from custody, respond to any protective order proceedings, and begin building a defense.

Thorough Investigation of the Facts

Our lawyer will investigate the circumstances surrounding an accusation of domestic violence. He will review the evidence involved in a case, which may include police reports and body camera footage, as well as text messages or other electronic communications between the people involved in an incident. He can speak with witnesses and look closely at the timeline of events to build a full picture of what happened and take steps to defend against accusations of domestic violence.

Preparing Clients for Protective Order Hearings

If an alleged victim or law enforcement officials take steps to put a protective order in place that is meant to prevent domestic violence from happening in the future, our attorney can help a person defend against this type of order. He can help a client prepare for a hearing and present evidence and testimony countering the claims of domestic violence. He will work to limit the restrictions that a person may face so they can avoid problems that could affect their family life.

Defense Strategies Against Domestic Violence Charges

Our lawyer will develop a defense strategy to help a person avoid a criminal conviction for an offense involving domestic violence. He may be able to challenge the credibility of the claims made against a client, present evidence of self-defense, or take other steps to demonstrate a person's innocence. He will work to ensure that a person will be able to resolve their criminal case successfully

Guidance Through Every Stage of a Case

Our attorney will keep clients fully informed throughout the legal process, helping them understand what to expect and what steps they can take to protect their rights. He will make sure a person is fully prepared to appear in court, including dressing professionally and responding to questions the right way. His goal is to stand by a client's side and provide assurance that everything possible is being done to help them get through this difficult situation and achieve positive results.

Contact Our Silver Spring, MD Domestic Violence Lawyer

At the Law Offices of Mallon Snyder, our lawyer understands the personal and emotional issues that people accused of domestic violence are likely to experience. He can provide the compassionate guidance needed to get through these situations, defend against a criminal conviction, and minimize the ways these accusations may affect a person's life. Contact our Silver Spring domestic violence defense attorney at 301-762-7500 to schedule a free consultation.