Domestic violence can come in many forms. The Washington State Supreme Court confirmed that last week when it unanimously ruled that animal abuse can, and does, constitute domestic violence. The high court confirmed that a Tukwila man did, in fact, commit domestic violence when he savagely beat his girlfriend’s dog to death. Ultimately, the justices held that the purpose of the domestic violence designation on criminal cases is to ensure domestic violence victims are protected, as it allows courts – among other thing – to issue no contact orders between the defendant and the victim at issue.
The man originally had been convicted in superior court. He was given 18 months in prison – 12 of which was for the animal abuse, and 6 of which was for traumatizing his girlfriend for the act. Sadly, the Chihuahua-Dashshund mix died after being taken by police to a veterinarian clinic where she could not be saved.
Whether arrested, cited, booked and/or charged for a crime, you should always immediately contact a Criminal lawyer. A criminal attorney is not going to judge you, and understands that everyone makes mistakes. Hiring a Criminal Lawyer to help you can – at a minimum – reduce penalties, and can help direct you on how to best deal with your criminal charge, and many times even get them dismissed. So it should go without saying that if you are arrested, cited, booked or charged for a misdemeanor or felony you should hire a qualified Criminal Lawyer as soon as possible. Criminal charges can cause havoc on a person’s personal and professional life. Anyone charged with a crime in Washington State should immediately seek the assistance of a seasoned Criminal Lawyer – like the attorneys at SQ Attorneys – (206) 441-0900.
