Mesa Woman Faces Domestic Violence Charges
We have a tendency to assume all domestic violence cases involve a husband assaulting a wife. This is simply not the case. Although it is less common, women too can be the aggressors in domestic violence cases, and this is a good example of that.
Thirty year old Alana Arteaga faces charges of domestic violence assault against her husband. The man awoke to find his wife punching and scratching him. He suffered bruising and deep scratches, according to this account in the Arizona Republic.
The police stated Arteaga was under the influence of alcohol and upset about something at the time of the alleged attack. Not the first incident involving this couple, the police have responded to the Arteaga home 10 times in the past three months and Arteaga has been convicted for domestic changes 5 times since 2005.
In order for a crime in the state of Arizona to be labeled as a “domestic” crime, there must be a relationship between the victim and the alleged aggressor. This relationship does not have to be marriage but can be a tie between a dating couple, roommates, people who share a child, or any family member.
The seriousness of the offense is exacerbated by previous convictions. Because Arteaga has had 5 prior convictions in the past 4 years, she could face elevated charges this time. Under Arizona criminal law, if she is found guilty for a third time in less than 84 months, the judge can elevate any misdemeanor domestic offense to a felony.
This could potentially mean the difference between a few months in jail and several years in the state prison system.
Another aggravating factor is the injuries sustained in the assault. Although it doesn’t apply in this case, if there was serious bodily injury involved, the suspect would face class 3 felony charges, which can carry 5 to 15 years in prison.
There are many factors that can influence your domestic violence case. The best advice is to speak directly with a defense attorney about the specifics of your situation. Contact me immediately to get some free legal advice about your case.
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