Domestic Violence Attorney in Fort Bend County

Defending Clients Accused Of Domestic Violence in the Greater Houston Area

Were you accused of domestic violence? Were you arrested after an altercation with a family member? If so, you could be charged with one of three crimes: domestic assault, aggravated domestic assault, or continuous violence against the family.

Although there is no specific statute for domestic violence in Texas, an assault will be considered “family violence” if the victim is:

• Your current or former spouse
• Your child, step-child, or foster child
• Someone with whom you share a home
• Someone that you are or were dating
• The other parent of your child
• One of your family members

Being arrested for domestic violence is serious. If you are facing charges of family violence in Texas, you should speak with a Fort Bend County criminal lawyer at The Sims Law Firm, PLLC. With experience as a former prosecutor, Brandon Sims provides the aggressive defense you need.

Domestic Assault Charges in Texas

You could be charged with domestic assault if you are accused of assaulting a family member, household member, or dating partner. Apart from your relationship with the victim, all of the elements for domestic assault are the same as simple assault—which includes harming another person, threatening to harm another person, or touching another person in an offensive manner.

If you have no prior domestic assault convictions, you would be charged with a Class A misdemeanor. This offense is punishable by up to one year in jail and $4,000 in fines. If you have a prior conviction on your record, you could be charged with a third-degree felony. This offense is punishable by two to 10 years in state prison and $10,000 in fines.

Penalties for Aggravated Domestic Assault in Texas

If you have been accused of committing an aggravated assault against your spouse, family member, or household member, you could be charged with aggravated domestic assault. While similar to domestic assault, your charges could be elevated if you intentionally or recklessly cause serious bodily injury to the victim or use or exhibit a weapon during the assault.

If a deadly weapon was used and the victim was seriously injured, you could be charged with a first-degree felony. 
If you are convicted, you could face up to 99 years in prison and $10,000 in fines. 

Penalties For Continued Violence Against the Family

In Texas, you could also be charged with the crime of “continuous violence against the family” if you have been accused of committing two domestic assaults in the span of 12 months. What makes this particularly tricky is that you don’t actually have to be arrested or convicted of either offense. It also doesn’t have to be proven that the two assaults were committed against the same victim. Under state law, this offense is a third-degree felony, which means that you could face up to 10 years in prison and $4,000 in fines if you are convicted.

Contact Our Domestic Violence Lawyer Today

If you have been charged with domestic violence, you have no time to waste. The sooner you contact a criminal defense attorney in Fort Bend County, the better it could be for your case. Our lawyer has over 15 years of legal experience and knows what it takes to provide effective and aggressive representation. Protect your future by scheduling a free initial consultation with our domestic violence attorney at The Sims Law Firm, PLLC, today.