Domestic violence is not a criminal charge in itself. It is a label applied to a variety of violent crimes when the parties involved are domestically connected: husbands and wives, boyfriends and girlfriends, and even siblings and roommates in some cases. These violent crimes include:

  • Assault
  • Aggravated assault
  • Murder
  • Capital murder

Some people believe that domestic violence assault is the equivalent of a traffic ticket. This is a huge mistake. A conviction for this crime can bar a person from owning firearms, and it can affect eligibility for citizenship, among other things. These domestic violence charges and all others require the assistance of an experienced criminal defense lawyer.

Paul J. Goeke, Attorney at Law, is a board-certified* criminal defense specialist with over 30 years of experience providing aggressive representation to people accused of domestic violence crimes in San Antonio, Austin and the surrounding parts of Texas. He handles all domestic violence cases with the same zeal and commitment to success at trial that has brought success to such difficult cases as capital murder and other serious offenses.

The Victim Cannot Drop the Charges

In the past, the victim ― the wife, the girlfriend or another party ― was able to request that domestic violence charges be "dropped." This no longer happens, even in domestic violence assault cases. When the request is made to "drop a case," prosecutors often view the victim as someone who is being manipulated by the alleged abuser, someone they need to protect. They will not simply agree to dismiss these cases.

Of course, in many cases, the victim does not want the charges to be dropped. These cases can stem out of divorce, disputes involving the care of children and other similar matters. Allegations may be made by the alleged victim to gain an upper hand. There is a lot of science and psychology involved in these cases. Mr. Goeke, with his background in the sciences, is able to take these cases to trial and convey this information to juries as he pursues a positive outcome for the person accused of domestic violence.

Texas Domestic Assault Charges and Abbreviations

Many different offenses may be charged in "domestic assault" or "domestic violence" cases. Official charges are often abbreviated and difficult to understand. A few of the more common abbreviations include:

  • ASLT - assault
  • AGG ASLT - aggravated assault
  • MANSL - manslaughter
  • M or MUR - murder

Free Consultation

For a consultation about your charges and your best possible defenses, contact Paul Goeke by calling 210-222-2999, emailing paulgoeke@paulgoekelaw.com, or using our online contact form. Mr. Goeke works with clients in San Antonio, Austin, and throughout Bexar County, Medina County, and Comal County.

*Certified by the Texas Board of Legal Certification