A domestic assault charge moves fast and hits hard. Before you have had a chance to tell your side, you may already be facing a no-contact order that bars you from your home, your children, or your partner, and a conviction can cost you your right to own a firearm for years. These cases are often charged on emotion and thin evidence, and they are frequently more defensible than they first appear. What you do in the first hours and days matters enormously.
At the Law Office of Lauren Campoli, we defend people accused of domestic assault throughout Hennepin County and the greater Twin Cities. We move quickly to protect your rights, your relationships, and your record.
How Minnesota Charges Domestic Assault
Domestic assault (Minn. Stat. § 609.2242) applies when the alleged victim is a family or household member, a category that includes spouses, partners, co-parents, and people who live or have lived together. It is charged when someone acts with intent to cause fear of immediate harm, or intentionally inflicts or attempts to inflict bodily harm. Importantly, it is an enhanceable offense, meaning prior convictions raise the level of a new charge:
- Misdemeanor. A first-time domestic assault. Up to 90 days in jail and a $1,000 fine.
- Gross misdemeanor. Charged within ten years of a prior qualifying domestic-violence conviction. Up to 364 days in jail and a $3,000 fine.
- Felony. Charged within ten years of two or more prior qualifying convictions. Up to 5 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
Related charges carry even greater weight. Domestic assault by strangulation (Minn. Stat. § 609.2247) is a felony in its own right, and more serious injuries can be charged under Minnesota’s felony assault statutes.
The Consequences Reach Beyond the Sentence
Two consequences make domestic assault different from an ordinary assault case, and both catch people off guard:
- Your firearm rights. A domestic assault conviction generally bars you from possessing a firearm for at least three years, and if the court finds a firearm was used, the prohibition can last a lifetime. Federal law adds its own firearm ban. Possessing a firearm in violation of these rules is a separate crime.
- No-contact orders (DANCO). A court can issue a Domestic Abuse No Contact Order that prohibits any contact with the alleged victim, often immediately. A DANCO is separate from an Order for Protection, and violating it is its own crime, even when the contact seems harmless, such as a message about childcare. We work to prevent or limit these orders where possible, and to keep an accidental violation from becoming a new charge.
Defending a Domestic Assault Charge
Domestic cases are often built on a single account, and they can shift as emotions cool. Depending on the facts, a defense may focus on self-defense, the absence of intent, inconsistencies in the allegations, a lack of injury or corroborating evidence, or a recanting or unavailable witness. Because these charges enhance over time, keeping a first charge off your record matters not just now, but for the future.
Talk With a Minnesota Domestic Assault Lawyer
A domestic assault charge threatens your freedom, your family, and your rights, and it demands an early, serious defense. Contact the Law Office of Lauren Campoli at 612-500-7777 to discuss your case.
PRACTICE AREAS
› Assault
› Domestic Violence
› DWI Defense
› Juvenile Offenses
› Drug Crimes
› Theft and Property Crimes
› Homicide
› Federal Crimes
› Title IX Defense
› Expungement