Pre-Charging Domestic Violence Defense – PC 273.5(a)
Our client was arrested on suspicion of inflicting corporal injury on a dating partner under California Penal Code § 273.5(a) following an alleged domestic violence incident involving a former partner. After a neighbor contacted law enforcement, officers responded to the scene and arrested our client based on the presence of bite marks on the other party’s arm. Although no formal charges had yet been filed, our client faced the prospect of felony prosecution and the significant personal and professional consequences that accompany domestic violence allegations.
Before charges were filed, our defense team acted immediately. Our in-house investigator conducted an independent investigation and obtained statements from the individuals involved, while our attorneys engaged directly with the District Attorney’s Office. We highlighted the evidentiary weaknesses in the case and presented information that undermined the basis for criminal charges, advocating that the available evidence did not support prosecution.
After reviewing our investigation and legal arguments, the District Attorney declined to file charges against our client. By intervening during the pre-charging stage, we prevented our client from facing criminal prosecution and the lasting consequences of a domestic violence conviction.































