Broadway star Pia Zadora was arrested recently on charges of Battery Domestic Violence. Police responded to Zadora's home after receiving a call from her 16-year-old son, who reportedly claimed his mother choked him. Zadora also tried to take the phone away from her son while he was on the phone with police, scratching his ear. Zadora was trying to get her son to go to bed, but he refused. The argument spiraled out of control, and Zadora was ultimately arrested. According to reports, Zadora was drinking alcohol earlier in the evening.
Battery Domestic Violence is a serious offense and it is considered a violent crime. In Nevada, a conviction for Battery Domestic Violence carries a penalty of up to six (6) months in jail and a $1,000.00 fine. A conviction for Battery Domestic Violence can also result in court-ordered weekly counseling sessions for an hour and a half (1 ½) a week every week for between six (6) months and one (1) year, as well as extensive community service orders. A Battery Domestic Violence conviction can have immigration consequences, which may include deportation and exclusion. A Battery Domestic Violence conviction also makes it illegal for a person to own or possess a firearm.
Each time a person is convicted for Battery Domestic Violence, the punishment is increasingly serious. A third conviction within seven (7) years is a felony offense and is non-probationable, meaning that a person convicted of Battery Domestic Violence, Third Offense, must be sentenced to prison and cannot receive probation.
Battery Domestic Violence by Strangulation is also a felony offense and carries a potential sentence of up to five (5) years in prison and up to a $10,000.00 fine. Strangulation is defined as: "intentionally impeding the normal breathing or circulation of the blood by applying pressure on the throat or neck or by blocking the nose or mouth of another person in a manner that creates a risk of death or substantial bodily harm" NRS 200.481(1)(h).
If you or someone you know is charged or arrested for Battery Domestic Violence, it is important that you contact a Las Vegas Criminal Defense Lawyer right away. The Las Vegas Criminal Defense Lawyers at Brown Law Offices can assist you in analyzing the facts of your case, identifying applicable defenses and developing the most aggressive defense strategy possible to protect your legal rights.