Hope Solo Faces Charges Of Domestic Assault And Battery

The Seattle Times reported that two time soccer Olympic gold medalist Hope Solo was recently arrested and charged with two counts of domestic assault and battery.  The alleged victims are Solo’s sister and seventeen year old nephew.

According to reports, police responded to a call about a family disturbance involving a female hitting people and loud noise.  After interviewing witnesses the police decided that Solo was the initial aggressor and arrested her. Apparently, she appeared to be under the influence of alcohol and the other individuals had some injuries.

When Police Respond To A Call For “Domestic Violence” In Massachusetts Does Somebody Always Get Arrested?

Usually when police officers in Massachusetts respond to a call for a domestic disturbance or domestic violence someone will get arrested. The reasoning behind this is because the police want to prevent a violent incident after they leave the scene. Due to the tumultuous nature of these situations, many police departments have procedures that indicate that the “preferred procedure” when an officer responds to this type of call is to arrest one of the parties. It is always important for a defense attorney to request the policies and procedures of the appropriate police departments because these documents can be a helpful tool to an effective cross-examination.

Can The District Attorney’s Office Force A Family Member To Testify Against A Family Member?

The short answer is that it depends on the circumstances. Siblings and parents and children do not have any privilege that can be asserted that will prevent them from having to testify.  However, in most situations, spouses cannot be forced to testify against one another.

A domestic assault and battery case is really no different from a simple assault and battery case.  The word “domestic” just indicates that it occurred in a family situation. The only type of case that this may make a difference in would be if the parties are not United States citizens. The Immigration And Naturalization Department do not view domestic assault and battery in the same way that simple assault and battery is

What Types Of Defenses Can Be Asserted In Domestic Cases?

As in all assault and battery cases, a timely investigation including witness interviews should be conducted. In some situations, a defense of self-defense and/or defense of another may be applicable if it is not clear who started the initial physical altercation. Because the parties in these situations generally know one another a defense of misidentification is not usually viable.

Is Assault And Battery A Misdemeanor Or A Felony?

The charge of assault and battery is a misdemeanor. A misdemeanor is a case where the most severe sentence that can be imposed is a house of correction or jail sentence. Forms of “aggravated” assault and battery such as assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon, assault and battery no a person over sixty-five and assault and battery on a pregnant person are felonies which means that upon conviction there is a possibility that a defendant can go to state prison. However, if a defendant is charged with these felonies and the case is prosecuted in the district court then the most severe penalty that can be imposed upon conviction is a house of correction sentence.  It is important to realize that a judge has the discretion to impose a sentence including probation.