Domestic Violence Attorney in Lakewood, Washington

Relationships can be challenging and have the potential to erupt into emotionally charged exchanges. Sometimes these become physical or include a threat by one partner to another. In Lakewood, Tacoma and across Washington, domestic violence is not a particular crime; rather, it is an enhancement in penalties when a number of different crimes are committed within an intimate relationship. In addition to actual physical violence, domestic violence can refer to an act or threat used in an attempt to punish, intimidate, control, coerce, or exact revenge against a current or former partner or member of the same household, including those who are dating, cohabiting, engaged, married, or who have children together. Various charges can be labeled as domestic violence, including assault, sexual assault, harassment, violating a protective order, interfering with someone reporting domestic violence, malicious mischief, and others. Domestic violence charges are oftentimes complex and defendants need an experienced Lakewood domestic violence attorney like Mark Treyz in their corner.

Arrest is Mandatory

If someone calls 911 to report domestic violence and the police show up, if there is any chance whatsoever that unwanted contact occurred, the police officers responding to the call have no choice but to make an arrest—even if the person who called hangs up the phone, recants, or refuses to cooperate with police. They have no discretion in the matter.

Punishment Without Conviction

As an American, you are probably familiar with the doctrine of innocent until proven guilty. But you may be surprised to learn that this particular right all but disappears if you’re accused of domestic violence. Based on nothing but someone’s unproven word—or even someone’s recanted unproven word, you can become subject to immediate penalties:

• Being evicted your home
• Being denied the right to see or speak to the alleged victim, even if that person wants to have contact with you
• Loss of the custody and visitation with your children and denial of visitation
• Loss of the right to own a gun
• Loss of the right to drink alcohol.

All this without your being convicted of anything at all!

Here’s another fact that may surprise you: the prosecution can proceed without the alleged victim filing, which is why it’s so important to contact an aggressive Lakewood domestic violence lawyer if you are facing charges.

Safeguard Your Rights with an Experienced Lakewood Domestic Violence Lawyer

If you’ve been accused of a crime against someone you are or were in a relationship with and it’s being called “domestic violence,” you must hire a Washington domestic violence lawyer immediately. Make sure you have a lawyer with years of experience protecting clients from the life-shattering consequences of a domestic violence charge. In Lakewood, there is no better choice than Mark Treyz.

Mark is a Tacoma criminal defense attorney with more than 27 years legal experience in Washington’s criminal justice system. As a former prosecutor and pro tem judge, he knows how the system works and how to make it work for you. He understands the potential for false domestic violence allegations and knows how to uncover evidence that he can use to create a reasonable doubt as to the truth of the accusation you’re facing.

What’s at Risk

You may be facing the possibility of jail time; loss of your home, family, and reputation; and a lifetime of lost opportunities because of a criminal record. Mark takes your constitutional rights extremely seriously, and he believes passionately that everyone accused of a crime is entitled to the presumption of innocence until proven guilty. He is tireless and aggressive in his dense of every client he represents, and you can rely on him to use every legal means to achieve the outcome that will best serve your interests.

When you’re facing an accusation of domestic violence, you may feel that you don’t have a chance against domestic violence charges made by the government. However, with Mark Treyz working in your behalf, you may have a chance to walk away unscathed. The sooner you get Mark working on your case, the better position he’ll be in to keep you from suffering from pre-conviction restrictions, and the better opportunity he’ll have to conduct a thorough investigation of the incident, the arrest procedure, and any factors that he can find to use in preparing your defense. Call Mark S. Treyz today for the experienced, professional, and skilled representation that could save you from an uncertain future.