San Luis Obispo, Felony Domestic Violence, Plea Misdemeanor

Our client was in Arroyo Grande for work. He had brought along his girlfriend, with whom he had lived for several years. The couple was staying at a hotel behind an abandoned restaurant that was occupied by homeless people.

The homeless person became enraged and assaulted our client’s girlfriend, punching her in the mouth so that her lips bled and then pulling her hair so hard that a portion of hair actually fell out from the roots.

Our client’s girlfriend was shocked and very scared. She ran back to the hotel room and told our client what happened. She was loudly screaming and crying. Another person at the hotel called 911 and the police arrived to investigate the situation.

Our client’s girlfriend tried to clean herself up, but the bleeding continued. She tried lying down to sleep, but her heart was racing. Her blood got all over the hotel sheets.

Police knocked on the door of the hotel room and our client stumbled to the door to answer. The police asked if he had been drinking that evening and he said he had. They asked if he had ever been arrested for domestic violence and he told them that in fact, he was convicted of domestic violence eleven years earlier. He also had two prior DUI’s.

Police then asked our client why he beat up his girlfriend and he said he did not. He was promptly arrested and taken to jail. Police did not believe the girlfriend when she explained the cause of her injuries. Police simply concluded that she was trying to protect her boyfriend. After all, the police had received a 911 call from someone at the hotel reporting the two fighting.San Luis Obsipo Superior Courthouse

Greg listened to the client’s story and had the girlfriend sign a declaration explaining what happened.

Greg then appeared with the client at the arraignment for felony domestic violence. The handling prosecutor was extremely rude and even angry at our client. When Greg explained how the injuries were actually caused by a homeless person and not the client, the prosecutor sarcastically dismissed Greg’s explanation, saying “I’ve heard crap like that 1,000 times before. Look, your client was drunk and is a drunk. He even had a prior conviction for domestic violence, so he is capable of hitting a woman.”

The prosecutor then set forth her offer of two years in state prison, five years of formal probation and a $500 fine, plus penalties and assessments, as well as attending the 52 session batterer’s program.

Greg listened respectfully to the female prosecutor and then explained the situation to the client.

Before the next court appearance, the prosecutor called up Greg and asked for a counter offer, saying that three months had passed since the last court appearance and she was surprised at Greg’s failure to propose a counter offer.

In fact, only three weeks had passed.

Greg began to propose a counter offer, wherein the charges would be reduced to a misdemeanor and the client would nevertheless attend the 52 session batterer’s program. As Greg was proposing the terms, the prosecutor interrupted Greg several times with sarcastic comments and then even just hung up on Greg before he could finish making the counter offer.

At the second and third court appearances, the same prosecutor continued her tirade of insults and sarcasm, but each time, Greg continued the hearing.

At the fourth hearing, the prosecutor was out at a training seminar and a new, younger prosecutor was present. Greg then negotiated a reduction of the charges to a misdemeanor and only 20 days of county jail, plus 104 Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, the 52 session batterers program and three years of probation. The client was very happy, but still stunned, as was Greg, at the ferocity of the prosecutor.

For more information about , please click on the following articles:

1. What Punishment Do I Face for Domestic Violence?
2. Federal Lifetime Ban on Owning a Firearm Applies After Misdemeanor Conviction for Domestic Violence under California Law
3. Will the Prosecutor Dismiss the Domestic Violence Case If the Victim Will Not Testify or Appear at Trial?
   

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