Domestic violence incidents in the home can result in serious, long-term consequences and a damaged reputation for those charged with abuse. Domestic violence refers to physical or mental damage imposed on one household or family member by another individual in the household or member of the family. Charges of domestic violence will vary depending on the severity of the victim’s injuries, whether a child was present at the time of the incident and whether a protective order was violated.
While many domestic violence cases involve married or dating couples, this is not always the case. For example, U.S. soccer star Hope Solo was recently arrested for domestic violence after she allegedly assaulted her sister and 17-year old nephew. Authorities say that she may have been intoxicated when the alleged incident occurred.
Police received a call early Saturday morning reporting that a woman at the sister’s residence was hitting people and would not stop or leave the house. The gold-medalist goalie is facing two counts of fourth-degree domestic violence assault.
The City of Kirkland requested bail, but Solo’s attorney argued that her status and lack of a criminal record made it unlikely that she would not appear for court. Solo was released without bail and was ordered not to drink alcohol or contact those involved in this incident. Solo’s attorney has entered a not guilty plea on Solo’s behalf. He says that she was a victim in the fight and that there will be a strong defense in this case. Solo will appear in court again in mid-August.
Individuals who face similar charges should start crafting a legal defense immediately. An attorney may be able to help with this, and will discuss strategies with an individual who has been accused of the offense. By being active and aggressive in his or her defense, an attorney may be able to get charges dropped or reduced, allowing the accused individual to move past the incident faster.
Source: WISTV, “US soccer star Hope Solo enters not guilty plea,” Donna Gordon Blankinship, June 23, 2014
