Domestic Violence Defense

WEBVTT 00:00:05.480 --> 00:00:10.320 Domestic violence in Arizona is generally defined by an act against somebody you 00:00:10.345 --> 00:00:14.700 either had an intimate relationship with, have an intimate relationship with, 00:00:14.725 --> 00:00:16.620 or another family member. 00:00:16.645 --> 00:00:20.640 It can be anything from a misdemeanor where you're potentially facing probation 00:00:20.665 --> 00:00:25.020 to a very serious felony where you're facing substantial prison time. 00:00:25.045 --> 00:00:28.820 Domestic violence is the type of charge that lends itself to various defenses. 00:00:28.845 --> 00:00:34.440 There are oftentimes motives for alleged victims to say certain things 00:00:34.465 --> 00:00:36.220 happen when really they didn't. 00:00:36.245 --> 00:00:39.960 The defense strategies I implement as a lawyer to defend clients accused of 00:00:39.985 --> 00:00:42.580 domestic violence is to figure out what happened first. 00:00:42.605 --> 00:00:44.100 We got to figure that out. 00:00:44.125 --> 00:00:47.260 Once we figure that out, we need to figure out why it happened 00:00:47.285 --> 00:00:50.140 or why is somebody saying a certain thing. 00:00:50.165 --> 00:00:54.080 Once we know all of that, we're able to then either negotiate with 00:00:54.105 --> 00:00:58.340 the prosecutor for a better plea than what they've offered. 00:00:58.365 --> 00:01:01.580 We're able to ask a judge to dismiss the case based on insufficient 00:01:01.605 --> 00:01:06.490 evidence, or if our client's rights were violated by the arresting officer, 00:01:06.520 --> 00:01:10.440 or we're able to take that case to a trial with the hopes of getting 00:01:10.465 --> 00:01:12.240 a not guilty verdict. 00:01:12.280 --> 00:01:15.240 When choosing an attorney for a domestic violence charge in Arizona, you need to 00:01:15.265 --> 00:01:19.180 make sure you're going to a criminal defense firm that has a track record of 00:01:19.205 --> 00:01:21.975 defending people accused of domestic violence. 00:01:22.000 --> 00:01:24.480 You need to really choose somebody who knows the players involved 00:01:24.505 --> 00:01:26.320 in domestic violence cases. 00:01:26.840 --> 00:01:30.560 Normally, we deal with a group of prosecutors that are only in 00:01:30.585 --> 00:01:32.775 charge of domestic violence. 00:01:32.800 --> 00:01:35.780 If you consult with an attorney, and they don't know the names of those people, 00:01:35.805 --> 00:01:37.960 that's probably not the attorney for you. 00:01:38.680 --> 00:01:40.840 I talk to a lot of clients who come to meet with me, and they say, "Yeah, I 00:01:40.865 --> 00:01:43.780 answered the officer's questions on the scene. 00:01:43.805 --> 00:01:47.575 I did that because I felt stupid, or I felt silly not answering his 00:01:47.600 --> 00:01:49.440 questions, or it felt like I might have been hiding something. 00:01:49.465 --> 00:01:54.700 " My advice to people is, the officers aren't there to be your friends. 00:01:54.725 --> 00:01:58.760 They're there to investigate, and literally, anything you say, even if you 00:01:58.785 --> 00:02:04.210 think it's minute and not important, they're going to use against you later on. 00:02:04.240 --> 00:02:10.610 I tell everybody I know if you're ever involved with the police, 00:02:10.640 --> 00:02:13.340 tell them, "I know this really mean lawyer named Ryan Huffman. 00:02:13.365 --> 00:02:16.520 He says I shouldn't talk to you. I'm sorry. 00:02:16.545 --> 00:02:16.680 "