Can Sexual Assault Charges Be Combined with Domestic Violence Charges?

Accusations of domestic violence can ruin a person’s reputation long before the case ever goes to trial. The same can be said of sexual assault charges. If you’ve been charged with any type of domestic violence charge, including sexual assault, it’s imperative that you meet with a sexual assault attorney in Denver, CO, right away. You could even meet with a sexual assault attorney before you’ve been charged if you suspect that you could be under investigation or if someone has made accusations against you.

Domestic Violence Charges

A domestic violence charge does not refer to any one specific charge. Rather, it’s an umbrella term that can apply to a range of criminal offenses. A court may use domestic violence as a sentencing enhancer. In other words, being charged with assault and battery will carry a steep sentence by itself, but the penalties can become even more severe if the case is associated with domestic violence. A person could even be charged with domestic violence-related vandalism of property if the property that was destroyed belonged to a member of the same household.

Sexual Assault Charges

Since domestic violence can be attached to a broad range of offenses as a sentencing enhancer, it can indeed be combined with a sexual assault charge. A sexual assault charge could be considered to be domestic violence if the offense was allegedly committed against a person with whom the defendant is currently involved in an intimate relationship or had an intimate relationship in the past. These include spouses, former spouses, current or former unmarried couples, and individuals who share a child in common regardless of whether they have ever been married or lived together. Your attorney can advise you of the potential penalties in the event you are convicted. If you’ve been charged with a Class I misdemeanor, you may be sentenced to up to two years behind bars and a fine of up to $5,000. If you’ve been charged with a felony, you could be facing up to 12 years in prison and a fine of up to $500,000.