Riverside Domestic Violence Lawyer

Domestic Violence Lawyer Riverside, CA

If you have been arrested for domestic violence in Riverside, the consequences extend well beyond the criminal case itself. A conviction affects your custody rights, your ability to own a firearm, your immigration status, and your employment prospects. California prosecutors treat these allegations seriously, and so should you.

Seyb Law Group has over 13 years of experience defending criminal cases in Riverside County and throughout Southern California. Our Riverside, CA domestic violence lawyer will review the specific circumstances of your arrest, challenge the evidence the prosecution plans to use, and work toward the best available resolution. We offer free consultations for all domestic violence cases.

Why Choose Seyb Law Group for Domestic Violence Defense in Riverside, CA?

Proven Results in Domestic Violence Cases

We have a track record of obtaining favorable outcomes for clients charged with domestic violence in California. Our firm has secured a complete dismissal in a spousal battery with injury case, with the client receiving no jail time. In a felony domestic violence matter, we obtained charges reduced to a misdemeanor with no jail time. These results reflect the way we approach every case: challenge the allegations aggressively, investigate what actually happened, and hold the prosecution to its burden of proof.

Spencer Seyb, Founder and Lead Attorney

Spencer Seyb founded this firm with a straightforward belief: that every person accused of a crime deserves a vigorous defense. He earned his law degree from Trinity Law School in Santa Ana after completing his undergraduate studies at the University of Houston. Spencer is known for being persistent in pursuing dismissals and reductions, and he is confident in navigating the complexities of California’s domestic violence statutes.

As a criminal defense lawyer in Riverside, CA, Spencer understands how the local District Attorney’s office handles domestic violence prosecutions, which judges preside over these cases at Riverside County Superior Court, and what defense strategies are most likely to produce results in this jurisdiction.

Free Consultations and Flexible Payment

We provide free consultations for every domestic violence case. That first conversation covers the charges you are facing, the evidence the prosecution likely has, and what defenses may apply. We also offer payment plans to make quality legal representation accessible regardless of your financial situation.

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“I highly recommend hiring Seyb Law Group for any criminal case you have. My wife and I had some issues a while back, which lead to me getting arrested for domestic violence. It was a really scary situation, but Nate guided me through the process and got my case dismissed!” — Rakesh Agrawal

Read more reviews on our Google Business Profile.

Types of Domestic Violence Cases We Handle in Riverside

Domestic violence is not a single charge under California law. It encompasses several distinct offenses, and the charge filed depends on the relationship between the parties, whether an injury occurred, and the severity of the alleged conduct. We defend clients against all of them.

Domestic battery. Penal Code 243(e)(1) covers willful harmful or offensive touching of a spouse, cohabitant, dating partner, or co-parent. No visible injury is required, as even the slightest unwanted physical contact can result in an arrest and prosecution. This charge is always a misdemeanor, but a conviction still carries up to one year in jail, fines, a mandatory batterer’s intervention program, and a 10-year firearm ban. The distinction between misdemeanor and felony domestic battery is one of the most important factors in these cases.
Corporal injury to a spouse. Penal Code 273.5 applies when the alleged victim sustains a visible or documented injury such as a bruise, a scratch, redness, swelling. This is a wobbler offense, meaning it can be charged as a misdemeanor or a felony. A felony conviction under PC 273.5 carries two, three, or four years in state prison and fines up to $6,000. Whether a charge can be reduced to a misdemeanor often depends on the injury, the defendant’s criminal history, and how the defense is presented.
Felony charges. When domestic violence is charged as a felony — because of the severity of the injury, the use of a weapon, or the defendant’s prior record — the consequences escalate dramatically. Prison time, a strike on your record under California’s Three Strikes Law, and a lifetime federal firearm ban are all on the table.
Criminal threats. Penal Code 422 applies when someone threatens to cause great bodily injury or death to an intimate partner, and the threat is specific enough and credible enough to cause sustained fear. This is a wobbler and a strike offense when charged as a felony.
Restraining order violations. A protective order is almost always issued in a domestic violence case, either at arraignment or as a condition of bail. Violating that order even with a text message, is a separate criminal offense under Penal Code 273.6. We also handle the underlying restraining order proceedings.
Assault and battery. Some domestic violence cases involve charges under the general assault and battery statutes, particularly when the relationship between the parties does not clearly fall within the domestic violence definitions. The penalties differ, and so does the defense approach.

California Legal Requirements for Domestic Violence Cases

California’s primary domestic violence statutes are Penal Code 243(e)(1) and Penal Code 273.5. The critical difference between the two is injury. PC 243(e)(1) applies to battery against an intimate partner without a visible injury. PC 273.5 requires proof that the defendant willfully inflicted corporal injury resulting in a traumatic condition — which can be as minor as a bruise or red mark.

California law enforcement operates under a mandatory arrest policy in domestic violence calls. If officers believe that domestic violence has occurred, they are required to make an arrest. This means that many people are taken into custody based on one person’s statement, before any investigation has taken place. The arrested person typically posts a $50,000 bail and receives a court date, along with an emergency protective order requiring them to stay away from the alleged victim.

Domestic violence convictions also trigger consequences beyond the criminal sentence. Under California Penal Code 29805, a misdemeanor domestic violence conviction results in a 10-year ban on owning or possessing firearms. Federal law imposes a lifetime ban. The court will almost always issue a protective order at sentencing under Penal Code 136.2, which can last up to 10 years.

Family law consequences are equally significant. Under Family Code 3044, a domestic violence conviction within the last five years creates a rebuttable presumption against awarding custody to the convicted parent. That presumption can be overcome, but it puts the burden on the defendant to demonstrate that custody is in the child’s best interest.

Important Aspects of a Riverside Domestic Violence Case

False Allegations

False accusations of domestic violence are more common than most people realize. Custody disputes, contentious breakups, and arguments that escalate verbally can all lead to allegations that did not happen as described or did not happen at all. We investigate the accuser’s motivations, review texts and social media evidence from both sides, and identify inconsistencies in the accuser’s account. When the prosecution’s case rests on credibility, exposing the weaknesses in the accuser’s story is often the most effective defense.

Self-Defense

California law allows a person to use reasonable force to defend themselves from an imminent threat of harm. In many domestic violence cases, the person who was arrested was actually the person who was defending themselves. The police make a quick judgment at the scene, and they do not always get it right. We gather evidence such as witness statements, medical records, photographs, prior incident reports to establish that our client acted in self-defense and that the prosecution’s version of events is incomplete or inaccurate.

Protective Orders and Their Consequences

One of the immediate impacts of a domestic violence arrest is the protective order. At arraignment, the court will typically issue a criminal protective order that prevents you from contacting the alleged victim. If you live together, you may be ordered out of your own home. If you have children together, the order can restrict your parenting time until the case is resolved. Violating the order even accidentally is a separate criminal charge. We advise our clients on how to comply with protective orders while protecting their rights in the underlying case.

Diversion Programs for First-Time Offenders

California law provides diversion programs for certain first-time domestic violence offenders. Successful completion of a diversion program can result in the charges being dismissed. Not everyone qualifies, and the availability of diversion varies by jurisdiction. In Riverside County, we evaluate whether diversion is an option and advocate for it when it serves our client’s interests.

Impact on Immigration

For non-citizens, a domestic violence conviction can trigger deportation proceedings, denial of naturalization, or bars to re-entry. Even a misdemeanor domestic battery conviction under PC 243(e)(1) can be classified as a crime involving moral turpitude. Immigration consequences require careful analysis, and any plea agreement must account for these risks.

Building a Defense Early

The earlier you retain an attorney, the more options are available. Evidence can be preserved, witnesses can be interviewed before their memories fade, and in some cases, charges can be reduced or prevented from being filed at all. We encourage anyone who has been arrested for domestic violence in Riverside, CA to contact our firm as soon as possible after the arrest.

Contact Seyb Law Group

A domestic violence charge in Riverside does not have to result in a conviction. Our domestic violence attorneys have the experience and the results to mount a defense that addresses the criminal case, the protective order, and the collateral consequences that follow these charges. The consultation is free.