CCD Law Crary & Domanico, P.S., of Spokane, defends clients faced with criminal charges involving no contact order violations or violations of any type of protection order. Suspects can be falsely accused of violations and face severe punishment over a misunderstanding.
We make sure judges and juries get all of the facts and hear your side of things before they deliver their verdicts. We make sure clients stay informed of their best options and get the best outcome possible. Contact our Spokane domestic violence lawyers for a case review with a real, local lawyer, to determine how to best defend your rights.
What is a Domestic Violence Order of Protection in Washington?
Orders of protection are applied to domestic violence cases to keep a suspect from contacting a spouse or partner. If a domestic violence case involves criminal charges, a suspect would face a stronger type of protection order called a “no contact order.” The order comes with stronger punishments for violations as well.
Suspects are not allowed to come to have physical contact with alleged victims, and also can’t find other ways to communicate with them. Other types of contact are prohibited and other people are protected under the no contact order.
The Revised Code of Washington RCW 10.99.040 goes over the legal restrictions:
“(2)(a) (i) Prohibits the person charged or arrested from making any attempt to contact, including nonphysical contact, the victim or the victim’s family or household members, either directly, indirectly, or through a third party;
(ii) Excludes the defendant from a residence shared with the victim, or from a workplace, school, or child care;
(iii) Prohibits the person from knowingly coming within, or knowingly remaining within, a specified distance of a location or vehicle; and
(iv) Includes other related prohibitions to reduce risk of harm.”
A no contact order might be issued before a trial to decide domestic violence charges. The alleged victim may request it or a judge may order it pre-trial. The order can be extended through a trial. I can also be extended if a suspect confesses or is convicted.
Punishment for No Contact Order Violations
A violation of a no contact order will usually result in huge financial losses and jail time. It’s a gross misdemeanor in Washington.
These are just some of the potential punishments:
- One Year in Jail
- $5,000 fine
- A loss of the right to bear arms
- Requirement to wear an electronic monitoring device
These charges could be bumped up to a felony if the suspect has a previous record of breaking a no contact order. If found guilty, the fines could double and the defendant could face five times the jail sentence.
How Will a No Contact Order Violation Affect My Domestic Violence Case?
When under a no contact order, domestic violence suspects need to be extremely careful. They need to do everything possible to follow the terms of the order. A violation can not only result in jail time, but it also hurts their chances to present the truth in a domestic violence case.
It will make it much harder for suspects to clear their names and rebuild their families. An allegation of breaking the no contact order, or a conviction of breaking it would affect a judge’s decision in your upcoming legal proceedings.
These are just a few of the aspects of your life a violation can affect:
- Your ability to visit and communicate with your children
- Harm your case to receive custody of children
- Affect your chances of staying in your family home
- Affect your standing when negotiating the terms of a divorce
- Affect your ability to keep your job or apply for a new one
- Affect your ability to rent a house or make other purchases
Some protection orders are sought inappropriately and are used to harass an ex-spouse, ex-boyfriend, or ex-girlfriend. They might be used to ruin someone’s credibility before a divorce or child custody hearing. There are cases in which someone files a baseless protection order simply for revenge or out of spite.
Your lawyer closely examines and collects all evidence to show who you really are and to illuminate what really happened in any incident in question. In some cases, a judge or jury may rule against you, but your attorney is still extremely valuable when fighting to keep the punishment you face reasonable and legally appropriate.
Contact a Spokane No Contact Order Lawyer Today
The effectiveness of your legal defense can make an enormous difference in the outcome of your case. CCD Law has been defending clients in Eastern Washington for over 40 years. We help clients seek justice and rebuild their lives after facing serious and life-altering charges involving protection order violation accusations. We seek the restoration of people’s lives and resolutions for families if possible.
Contact us as soon as possible to schedule a confidential case consultation with a real Spokane attorney. The fact that these allegations were made doesn’t make you guilty. We can help you identify the fastest route to clearing your name and resolving accusations and criminal charges.
