Rapper Flavor Flav and his fiancé of eight years, 39-year old Elizabeth Trujillo, were involved in a domestic dispute leading to the rapper's arrest at three a.m. Wednesday morning. The argument started with accusations of the rapper's infidelity and is alleged to have escalated to violence resulting in 911 being called. Trujillo claimed that the rapper threw her to the ground twice and ripped out her earring. The 53-year old rapper has also been accused of chasing his fiancé's 17-year old son around the house with two knives and threatening to kill him. The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police took the rapper into custody, but he was released shortly thereafter on bail. Police reports do not indicate whether the rapper was charged with Assault with a Deadly Weapon or Battery with a Deadly Weapon as a result of the knife allegations.
Battery Domestic Violence, while ordinarily a misdemeanor, is a very serious charge. The impact from a Battery Domestic Violence conviction can go far beyond the courtroom. A person convicted of Battery Domestic Violence is required to do weekly counseling for between 26 and 52 weeks, pay large fines, do community service and faces up to six (6) months in jail. In addition, a person loses their Second Amendment Right to own and possess firearms if they are convicted of Battery Domestic Violence. Furthermore, a Battery Domestic Violence conviction can negatively affect any pending child custody issues, and have a devastating impact on both your personal and professional lives.
Assault with a Deadly Weapon and Battery with a Deadly Weapon are felony charges that carry substantial prison sentences. These charges are considered "violent offenses" and are taken very seriously by the courts. A felony conviction can have a life-long impact, including losing the right to bear arms and the right to vote.
There are numerous defenses to Battery Domestic Violence and Assault/Battery with a Deadly Weapon charges. In some cases, the person arrested was simply trying to defend himself but the police arrested the wrong person. In other cases, the incident never even happened and the accuser is just making up allegations of violence in an attempt to gain a personal or financial advantage. In yet other cases, the police misinterpret the situation and make an arrest – even though it was just a heated argument and no violence occurred.
Whatever the facts of the case, if you or someone you know is facing Battery Domestic Violence or another charge as the result of domestic incident, it is important to call a knowledgeable and experienced Las Vegas Criminal Defense Attorney right away. The Las Vegas Criminal Defense Lawyers at Brown Law Offices can assist by working with you to analyze of your case, identify applicable defenses, and develop the most aggressive strategy possible to protect your legal rights.