Olympia Domestic Violence-Related Homicide Being Investigated

Last week a 73-year-old man was arrested in Olympia on suspicion of fatally shooting his wife. Deputies from Thurston County responded to a 911 call from the woman who stated that her husband and her adult son—the man’s stepson—were involved in an altercation which began when the son attempted to defend his mother. By the time the police arrived, the adult son was locked in the bathroom, after being shot in the back.  The wife was in a chair on the patio with a gunshot wound to the chest and could not be revived.

Charges of second-degree murder and first-degree assault have been filed against the husband. Some ten years ago, police responded to a domestic violence call at the same address; the call involved the same man, but a different woman than the man’s current wife.

What is Domestic Violence?

Domestic violence is often mistaken as someone losing his or her temper, or mutual fighting within a relationship. Domestic violence is more often about power and control than about two people getting angry and arguing. Domestic violence is a pattern of toxic behaviors by one person in a relationship in an attempt to control the other and can include:

• Emotional or verbal abuse which affects the self-esteem of the other person.
• Control or intimidation which includes isolating the victim from family and friends, controlling the money, preventing the victim from going to school or getting a job, following the victim or destroying his or her property.
• Physical abuse, which includes hitting, shoving, pushing, grabbing or any other type of intimidating, painful or offensive touching or contact.
• Sexual abuse, which includes unwanted touching, forced sex or degrading comments.

Domestic Violence Defense in Seattle

Because domestic violence is such a serious issue, judges and prosecutors often come down hard on those accused of the crime to "send a message" to others—in other words, those charged with domestic violence tend to experience harsher sentencing than those accused of assault. Any domestic violence crime can result in penalties for the crime itself as well as a no-contact order. Since the penalties are so harsh, those charged with domestic violence in Seattle must seek experienced legal representation immediately.

Depending on the severity of the domestic violence incident, charges can be filed as a misdemeanor, a gross misdemeanor or a felony. Very few domestic violence incidents are charged as misdemeanors, with more being charged as gross misdemeanors. The penalties for a gross misdemeanor conviction include a fine as large as $5,000 and up to one year in jail.

For a domestic violence incident charged as a felony, it could be a Class A, Class B or Class C felony, with Class A being the most serious, and usually only charged if the victim dies. A Class A felony conviction could potentially result in a sentence of life in prison.  A Class B felony conviction could result in up to ten years in prison and a fine as large as $20,000.  A Class C felony conviction could result in up to five years in prison, and a fine as large as $10,000. Sentencing will depend on the defendant’s personal and criminal history, whether the alleged victim also displayed a pattern of abuse, whether the offense was witnessed by a minor child under the age of 18 and whether the defendant was acting in self-defense after suffering control, coercion or abuse from the alleged victim.

Getting Help From Seattle Criminal Defense Attorneys at Lewis & Laws, PLLC

If you have been arrested and charged with a domestic violence offense, in Seattle, Bellevue, Kirkland, Everett, or anywhere in the state of Washington,  it is imperative that you understand the serious nature of the offense and the potential penalties you could face. You need a highly experienced Seattle domestic violence attorney who knows how to fight your charges aggressively on your behalf. Your attorney will tailor your defense to the circumstances surrounding your arrest and will work hard for the best possible outcome.

The experienced lawyers at Lewis & Laws, PLLC  have successfully defended clients in Seattle, Bellevue, and Kirkland. Contact us today at 206.209.0608 or fill out our online contact form to get more information or to get a free case review!