If you’re facing domestic violence charges in Pasadena, you need experienced legal representation that understands the serious consequences of a conviction and knows how to protect your rights. At Tu Defensor Criminalista, we provide aggressive criminal defense representation for individuals accused of domestic violence in Pasadena and throughout Southern California. Our team has successfully defended hundreds of clients against domestic violence allegations, protective order violations, and related criminal charges.
Domestic violence charges can devastate your life. Even an accusation—without conviction—can damage your reputation, career opportunities, housing options, and relationships with your family and children. California takes domestic violence extremely seriously, which is why you need a dedicated defense attorney who understands the local court system, knows the prosecutors, and has a proven track record of successful outcomes.
Free Confidential Consultation: (888) 315-3326 | Available 24/7 | Hablamos Español
We understand that being accused of domestic violence doesn’t mean you’re guilty. Our firm aggressively challenges the prosecution’s evidence, investigates the facts surrounding your arrest, and develops strategic defenses tailored to your specific situation. Whether you’re facing misdemeanor domestic battery charges or serious felony allegations, we’ll fight to protect your rights and achieve the best possible resolution.
Our domestic violence defense attorneys have extensive experience with Pasadena courts, including the Pasadena Superior Court and Los Angeles County Superior Court locations. We work closely with local judges, prosecutors, and law enforcement agencies, giving us insight into how these cases are typically handled and what strategies are most effective in our community.
Domestic violence in California encompasses a range of criminal offenses involving violence or threats against intimate partners, family members, or household members. The most commonly charged domestic violence offenses include corporal injury to a spouse or partner under Penal Code § 273.5, domestic battery under Penal Code § 243(e)(1), and battery against a cohabitant under Penal Code § 273.5.
California’s domestic violence laws apply broadly. An “intimate partner” includes current spouses, former spouses, current dating partners, former dating partners, and people with whom you have a child in common. This broad definition means allegations can arise from situations involving ex-partners, individuals you dated, or people you live with—not just married couples. Additionally, domestic violence statutes extend to family members, roommates, and anyone you’ve lived with in a romantic relationship.
The consequences of a domestic violence conviction are severe and far-reaching. Beyond potential jail time, fines, and probation, a conviction can result in losing custody of your children, employment termination, immigration consequences if you’re not a U.S. citizen, loss of professional licenses, and permanent damage to your reputation. A domestic violence conviction can also trigger firearm restrictions under California law, preventing you from owning or possessing guns for a minimum of ten years for misdemeanors and permanently for felonies. These collateral consequences often exceed the criminal penalties themselves.
Many domestic violence accusations arise from situations where both people are partly responsible, or where the alleged victim exaggerates what happened. Police officers responding to domestic violence calls often make arrests based on initial statements and visible injuries, without fully investigating the facts. In Pasadena, where the Pasadena Police Department handles hundreds of domestic violence-related incidents annually, officers are trained to make arrests when domestic violence is suspected, but this doesn’t mean arrests are always justified.
Sometimes, the person who called police is actually the aggressor, or both parties engaged in mutual combat. Arguments that escalate to physical contact happen in many relationships, but one party’s willingness to call police shouldn’t determine who is actually at fault. Officers arriving at a scene may not know the full history—prior abuse, self-defense situations, or mutual aggression—and they make decisions quickly based on incomplete information.
The criminal justice system in Los Angeles County, which includes Pasadena, takes domestic violence seriously under California law. Prosecutors are trained to vigorously pursue these cases, often regardless of the facts. They receive specialized training and pressure from victim advocacy organizations to prosecute cases aggressively. This means the prosecutor may pursue your case even if the evidence is weak or if the alleged victim wants to drop charges.
Our job is to examine what actually happened and challenge the prosecution’s narrative. We investigate police reports, interview witnesses, obtain medical records, video surveillance footage, photographs, electronic communications, and other evidence that may support your defense. We challenge improper police procedures, illegal searches and seizures, biased witness testimony, and other violations of your constitutional rights. We also investigate the alleged victim’s credibility and whether they have motives to fabricate or exaggerate accusations.
Domestic violence cases rely heavily on specific types of evidence. Understanding these categories helps explain how we develop defense strategies:
Physical Evidence: Photographs, medical records, weapon evidence, and physical objects related to the incident. We examine photographs taken by police, medical reports documenting injuries, and any physical evidence collected. We also hire our own experts to photograph crime scenes and analyze physical evidence.
Witness Testimony: Statements from individuals present during the alleged incident or who have knowledge of the relationship dynamics. We interview witnesses who can testify about what they saw, heard, or know about the relationship.
Medical Records: Documentation of injuries, medical treatments, hospital reports, and expert analysis of injury patterns. We obtain medical records and consult with medical experts who can analyze injury patterns and determine whether injuries are consistent with the alleged victim’s account.
Electronic Communications: Text messages, emails, phone records, social media posts, and other digital evidence. These communications often contradict verbal testimony and can be crucial to establishing what actually happened or the false nature of accusations.
Police Reports & Officer Testimony: Documentation of police investigation, statements given to officers, and officer observations at the scene. We carefully scrutinize these reports for inconsistencies, improper procedures, and bias.
Pasadena experiences significant criminal activity, with crime occurring approximately every 1 hour and 34 minutes within city limits[1]. The Pasadena Police Department responds to over 206,000 dispatch calls annually, with emergency 911 calls exceeding 57,000 per year[2]. Officers specifically address numerous assault incidents, including extensive domestic violence situations[2].
The Pasadena Police Department’s violent crime statistics show rates higher than both state and national averages[3], with residents facing a one in 189 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime annually. Property crimes also significantly impact the community, with a one in 38 chance of property crime victimization.
Domestic violence represents a serious public health crisis throughout California. According to data from the CDC’s National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS)[4], California experiences higher rates of intimate partner violence than the national average.
Specifically, approximately 32.9% of women living in California have experienced intimate partner violence, sexual violence, or stalking by an intimate partner at some point in their lives[5]. This translates to more than 4.5 million California women who have experienced domestic violence. These rates exceed the national average where approximately 1 in 4 women have reported experiencing intimate partner violence[4].
For men in California, the statistics are also concerning. Approximately 10 to 12% of men have experienced intimate partner violence in their lifetimes[5], representing hundreds of thousands of Californians.
On a national scale, the CDC’s National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey indicates that approximately 2 in 5 women (40%) and 1 in 4 men (26%) have experienced contact sexual violence, physical violence, and/or stalking by an intimate partner in their lifetime[6]. In the 12 months prior to the survey, 8.5% of women and 2% of men experienced intimate partner violence[4].
These statistics reveal that intimate partner violence affects millions of Americans across all demographic groups. However, certain populations experience disproportionate rates. Black non-Hispanic women reported a 43.7% lifetime prevalence of intimate partner violence, and multiracial non-Hispanic women reported a 53.8% lifetime prevalence, compared to lower rates among Hispanic and white non-Hispanic women[7].
Research demonstrates that intimate partner violence has severe health consequences extending far beyond physical injuries. More than 1 in 3 female victims (36.4%) and more than 1 in 7 male victims (15.6%) of intimate partner violence reported needing at least one type of health-related service in response to victimization[7].
Victims frequently experience:
The long-term health impacts of intimate partner violence create lasting effects on victims’ lives, extending years beyond the violent incidents themselves. These health consequences underscore the seriousness of domestic violence and justify the criminal justice system’s emphasis on prosecution.
Research demonstrates that the presence of a firearm in a domestic violence situation increases the risk of homicide by approximately 500 percent[8]. Additionally, among domestic violence victims killed by partners, the presence of a gun increases the likelihood of intimate partner homicide approximately five-fold[9].
Further research indicates that women in the United States are 11 times more likely to be killed with guns than women in other high-income countries, and women in intimate relationships are more likely to be killed with a firearm than all other means combined[8]. Additionally, m[8]o[8]re than 4.5 million people in the United States report being threatened with a gun by an intimate partner[8].
These statistics explain California’s strict approach to firearm restrictions in domestic violence cases. If you’re accused of domestic violence involving firearms, or if your accuser has obtained a protective order that restricts your firearm rights, the legal consequences can be particularly severe. Courts take firearm restrictions very seriously in domestic violence cases, and violating these restrictions carries significant penalties including additional criminal charges.
The most serious domestic violence charge is corporal injury to a spouse or cohabitant under Penal Code § 273.5. This statute makes it illegal to willfully inflict corporal injury on a current or former spouse, current or former cohabitant, current or former dating partner, or the mother or father of your child that results in a traumatic condition.
The prosecution must prove three elements: (1) you willfully inflicted physical injury on another person, (2) that person was your current or former intimate partner, and (3) the injury was traumatic in nature. Unlike simple battery, this offense requires visible, diagnosable injury—not just pain or minor marks. A “traumatic condition” means a condition of the body, such as a wound, internal injury, burn, bruise, or other injury. The injury doesn’t have to be severe, but it must be more than trivial.
Penalties for Penal Code § 273.5 conviction include:
Misdemeanor Conviction:
Felony Conviction:
Felony convictions carry strike allegations under California’s Three Strikes Law. A strike conviction means any future felony conviction will result in doubled sentences, and three strikes result in 25 years to life in prison.
Domestic battery is a less serious offense involving intentional, unlawful touching that results in injury or applies force to another person with whom you have an intimate relationship. Unlike Penal Code § 273.5, domestic battery doesn’t require a “traumatic” injury—even minor pain or redness can suffice.
Penalties for domestic battery conviction include:
Beyond the primary domestic violence statutes, prosecutors often charge additional offenses in domestic violence cases. These include:
Beyond criminal charges, domestic violence allegations often lead to protective orders (also called restraining orders or orders of protection). These court orders can prohibit you from contacting, harassing, threatening, or coming within specific distances of the alleged victim, their residence, workplace, and children.
Protective orders can include provisions requiring you to:
Violating a protective order is a separate criminal offense under Penal Code § 273.6 with penalties including up to one year in jail and fines up to $1,000 per violation. Each violation is a separate offense, so repeated violations can result in multiple charges and cumulative jail sentences. Courts can issue temporary restraining orders (TROs) immediately, without hearing from you, and then hold longer hearings to determine whether the protective order should remain in place.
Every domestic violence case begins with thorough investigation. We obtain police reports, witness statements, dispatch records, and body camera footage. We interview witnesses, including the alleged victim if they’re willing to speak with us. We examine medical records, take photographs of crime scenes, and collect any other evidence that may be relevant.
Many domestic violence cases involve disputed facts. Was there actually physical contact? Did the alleged victim exaggerate the severity of injuries? Was the alleged victim actually the aggressor? Was the arrest based on bias or stereotypes? Our investigation focuses on these critical questions.
We also examine the relationship history. Some cases involve prior incidents that provide context for current allegations. Others involve no prior incidents, which raises questions about why violence allegedly suddenly occurred. We look for patterns of behavior, inconsistencies in accounts, and evidence that contradicts the prosecution’s theory.
Police officers often make mistakes in domestic violence investigations. They may conduct illegal searches, make improper arrests, coerce statements, or fail to investigate potential defenses. We examine whether police violated your constitutional rights and whether any evidence should be excluded from trial.
Constitutional violations in domestic violence cases typically involve:
If you used force against your alleged victim, you may have a valid self-defense claim. California law permits use of force to defend yourself from imminent harm or to prevent commission of a crime. Specifically, you may use reasonable force necessary to protect yourself or someone else from imminent harm.
Self-defense requires: (1) reasonable belief of imminent harm or threat of harm, (2) reasonable belief that force was necessary to repel harm, and (3) use of only the amount of force necessary to protect yourself. The harm doesn’t have to actually occur—a reasonable belief of imminent harm is sufficient.
We gather evidence supporting self-defense claims, including medical records showing your injuries, witness testimony about the alleged victim’s aggression, any prior history of violence by the alleged victim, and other corroborating evidence. Prior abuse by the alleged victim, even if not reported to police, can support self-defense claims by establishing a pattern of aggression.
Unfortunately, some domestic violence accusations are completely fabricated. Alleged victims sometimes make false accusations to gain advantage in custody disputes, to punish ex-partners, to obtain a protective order preventing contact with children, or for other motivations. We investigate the credibility of accusers, examining inconsistent statements, motive to lie, and evidence contradicting their account.
Questions we investigate regarding accuser credibility include:
In some situations, both parties engaged in violence. California law recognizes mutual combat scenarios. If evidence shows both parties were participating in the altercation, this can support reduced charges or acquittal. Even if you initiated physical contact, the alleged victim’s aggressive response might constitute mutual combat negating domestic violence charges.
We investigate whether the alleged victim’s participation in combat suggests shared responsibility rather than your sole culpability. This requires careful analysis of the sequence of events, physical evidence, medical records showing injuries to both parties, and witness testimony.
Some cases lack sufficient evidence to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. The prosecution must prove every element of the charge beyond a reasonable doubt—a high legal standard. We challenge the prosecution’s evidence at trial, cross-examine witnesses, and present defenses that create reasonable doubt about your guilt.
Reasonable doubt can arise from many sources: inconsistent evidence, credibility problems with key witnesses, missing evidence that should exist, alternative explanations for the evidence, or other factors creating doubt about guilt. Our job is to ensure the jury understands the weakness of the prosecution’s case and the requirement that guilt be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
Pasadena is located in Los Angeles County and falls under the jurisdiction of the Los Angeles County Superior Court. Domestic violence charges in Pasadena are typically handled at the Pasadena Court (also called Pasadena Superior Court), located in downtown Pasadena. This court handles misdemeanor and felony cases involving Pasadena residents and incidents occurring within Pasadena city limits.
The Los Angeles County Superior Court system is extensive and complex, with multiple courthouses handling different types of cases. Understanding local procedures, judge tendencies, and prosecutor practices gives us significant advantages in defending our clients. We have extensive experience in Pasadena courts and maintain strong relationships with local judges and prosecutors.
Los Angeles County, including Pasadena, has specialized domestic violence prosecution units. These prosecutors receive specific training on domestic violence cases and often pursue cases more aggressively than standard prosecutors. They have resources, support staff, and victim advocates dedicated to prosecuting domestic violence cases.
However, specialized prosecution units also mean specialized defense is essential. We understand how these prosecutors think, what evidence they prioritize, and what strategies are most effective against them. Our experience with these units gives us strategic advantages in negotiating favorable resolutions or preparing for trial.
The Pasadena Police Department has specific procedures for investigating domestic violence incidents. Officers responding to domestic violence calls are trained to assess the situation, separate parties, interview witnesses, and determine whether to make arrests. Understanding these procedures helps us identify places where police may have deviated from proper protocols.
We request all police reports, dispatch records, body camera footage, witness statements, and other materials related to the police investigation. We examine whether officers followed proper procedures, conducted appropriate investigations, and made legally justified arrests. Deviations from standard procedures can support motions to suppress evidence or challenges to the reliability of police reports.
After arrest for domestic violence in Pasadena, you typically have an initial appearance within 48-72 hours. At this hearing, the court determines bail and any conditions of release. Domestic violence charges often result in protective orders preventing contact with the alleged victim as a condition of release.
We work aggressively to obtain reasonable bail amounts and release conditions. We present evidence of your ties to the community, employment, family, and other factors supporting release on your own recognizance or with reasonable bail. We also negotiate for reasonable protective order terms that allow necessary contact with children or your residence when appropriate.
Unfavorable bail conditions can destroy your employment, housing, and family relationships. We fight hard to ensure bail conditions are fair and don’t impose unnecessary hardships on you or your family.
If your alleged victim has filed for a protective order in Pasadena, the court may issue a temporary restraining order (TRO) immediately, often without your presence or opportunity to respond. TROs are typically valid for up to 21 days. During this period, you are prohibited from contacting the protected person and may be ordered to stay away from their residence, workplace, or other locations.
A TRO can be devastating. It may prevent you from returning to your home if the alleged victim also lives there, prevent you from seeing your children, restrict your ability to work if the alleged victim works nearby, and damage your reputation in the community. However, a TRO is temporary and can be challenged at a full protective order hearing.
After issuing a TRO, the court schedules a hearing on the protective order within 21 days (typically extended to 25 days). At this hearing, both sides present evidence and arguments. The alleged victim (called the “petitioner”) must prove by “clear and convincing evidence” that you have committed abuse and that a protective order is necessary.
We represent clients in protective order hearings, presenting evidence that contradicts the alleged victim’s claims, demonstrating that the protective order shouldn’t be issued, or negotiating for modified terms that are less restrictive. We challenge the alleged victim’s credibility, present evidence of your peaceful nature and respect for boundaries, and argue that no protective order is necessary or that conditions should be more reasonable.
Different types of protective orders apply in different circumstances including domestic violence protective orders, workplace violence restraining orders, elder or dependent adult abuse restraining orders, stalking protective orders, and gun violence restraining orders. Protective orders can be challenged on grounds of insufficient evidence, credibility issues, lack of abuse, or negotiating for less restrictive alternatives. We analyze which type applies to your situation and develop appropriate responses.
A domestic violence conviction carries consequences that extend far beyond jail time and fines. These collateral consequences can damage your life in profound ways and often exceed the criminal penalties themselves.
Family courts consider domestic violence convictions when determining custody and visitation arrangements. A conviction creates a rebuttable presumption against awarding primary custody to the convicted parent. This means the court presumes the convicted parent shouldn’t have primary custody unless they can demonstrate they are nonetheless fit to parent.
A conviction can result in loss of primary custody, supervised visitation only, restricted contact with your children, and mandatory anger management or counseling before custody restoration. These family law consequences are often more devastating than criminal penalties because they affect your relationship with your children. We fight hard to prevent domestic violence convictions partly because of these devastating family law consequences. Additionally, we help clients navigate family court proceedings alongside criminal defense, ensuring your family law and criminal cases work together strategically.
Many employers conduct criminal background checks and may terminate employees with domestic violence convictions. Certain professions—including healthcare, education, government, and law enforcement—have strict requirements regarding violent crime convictions. A domestic violence conviction can end your career before it starts or destroy an established career.
Professional licenses issued by state licensing boards often require “good moral character.” Domestic violence convictions create negative findings on moral character determinations. Teachers, nurses, doctors, attorneys, social workers, and other licensed professionals can lose their licenses due to domestic violence convictions. Some employers mandate termination upon conviction regardless of circumstances.
Landlords often deny housing to individuals with domestic violence convictions, making it difficult to find rental housing. Some housing programs and public housing agencies prohibit individuals with violence convictions from residing in their facilities.
Immigration consequences can be particularly severe. A domestic violence conviction can trigger deportation proceedings for non-citizens, separating you from your family and ending your residency in the United States. Non-citizens facing domestic violence charges should immediately consult with both a criminal defense attorney and an immigration attorney to understand the consequences and develop integrated defense strategies protecting both criminal and immigration interests.
A domestic violence conviction results in permanent firearm prohibition under California and federal law. You cannot own, possess, manufacture, sell, or carry firearms or ammunition. Violation of firearm restrictions is a separate felony offense.
For misdemeanor convictions, firearm prohibition lasts a minimum of 10 years but can be permanent. For felony convictions, firearm prohibition is permanent with limited exceptions that rarely apply. If you own firearms, a conviction typically requires surrender of all weapons and ammunition.
This restriction affects hunters, gun enthusiasts, collectors, and anyone who values firearm ownership. The loss of Second Amendment rights is permanent and eliminates opportunities for self-defense in your own home.
Beyond legal consequences, a domestic violence conviction damages your reputation and personal relationships. Even if you’re not convicted, the arrest and accusation create lasting stigma. The public nature of criminal proceedings means newspapers, social media, and internet databases may publish information about charges and convictions. This information follows you permanently, affecting employment opportunities, social relationships, and community standing.
Online reputation damage is particularly severe in today’s digital age. Your name may be associated with domestic violence charges on numerous websites for years or permanently. Potential employers, dating partners, and community members may discover these allegations through simple internet searches.
Our domestic violence defense attorneys have years of experience defending clients in Pasadena and Los Angeles County courts. We understand the local judicial system, know the prosecutors and judges, and have successfully defended hundreds of clients facing domestic violence allegations. We provide aggressive representation while treating clients with respect and dignity.
We recognize that everyone deserves strong legal representation, especially when facing serious criminal charges. We don’t judge our clients—we defend them. Your past doesn’t define your future, and a domestic violence accusation shouldn’t destroy your life without a proper fight.
A domestic violence conviction significantly impacts family court proceedings. While conviction doesn’t automatically result in complete loss of custody, it heavily influences judges’ decisions. The court will consider the conviction as evidence of unfitness for custody and create a presumption against primary custody. We work hard to prevent convictions partly because of these devastating family law consequences. We also help clients navigate family law issues alongside criminal defense. Even if the family court doesn’t completely strip custody, visitation may be restricted to supervised visitation or limited to specific times and conditions. Fighting a criminal conviction aggressively now can prevent damage to your family relationships later.
Yes. A domestic violence conviction results in permanent federal and California firearms prohibition. You cannot own, possess, manufacture, sell, or carry firearms or ammunition. This prohibition is permanent for felony convictions and applies for at least ten years after misdemeanor convictions but can become permanent with subsequent violations. If you have firearms currently, a conviction typically requires surrender of all weapons and ammunition to law enforcement. This affects your ability to hunt, sport shoot, collect firearms, or protect yourself with firearms in your home. For many Californians, firearm rights are important for self-defense, hunting, sport, or family tradition. We work hard to prevent convictions that would result in loss of these rights.
Exercise your right to remain silent and request an attorney immediately. Don’t speak to police without your lawyer present. Don’t apologize, explain, or answer questions. Be polite but firm: “I want to speak to an attorney.” Then contact our office immediately. Do not make any statements to the alleged victim, their family members, or mutual friends. Don’t post about the situation on social media. Anything you say can and will be used against you in court. Early legal intervention is critical—the sooner you contact us, the sooner we can begin investigating and protecting your rights.
Yes. Many protective orders are issued based on unsubstantiated claims. At the protective order hearing, we present evidence challenging the alleged victim’s testimony and demonstrating that the protective order shouldn’t be issued or should be modified. We’ve successfully fought protective orders and negotiated more reasonable terms that allow necessary contact with children while maintaining appropriate boundaries. If you can show the alleged victim’s claims lack credibility or supporting evidence, the court can decline to issue or extend the protective order.
Probable cause is the standard police use to arrest you. It requires reasonable belief that you committed a crime, but far less evidence than “beyond a reasonable doubt” required for conviction. Even if police had probable cause to arrest, that doesn’t mean they can prove guilt at trial. Our job is to challenge the evidence and create doubt about your guilt. Just because police arrested you doesn’t mean you’re guilty—police make arrests based on incomplete information and sometimes arrest the wrong person. We thoroughly investigate and challenge the prosecution’s evidence to protect your rights.
California’s Three Strikes Law (Penal Code § 667) provides that anyone convicted of a felony “strike” offense faces enhanced penalties. A “strike” is a serious or violent felony. Corporal injury to spouse/cohabitant under Penal Code § 273.5 can be charged as a strike when it’s charged as a felony. A strike conviction means any future felony conviction results in doubled sentences. Three strikes result in 25 years to life in prison. We work to prevent strike allegations and strike convictions because of these devastating long-term consequences.
Typically, a protective order doesn’t prevent you from visiting your own home, but it may require you to do so during specific times or with restrictions. If your intimate partner also lives in the home, the court may exclude you from the residence as part of the protective order. We negotiate to protect your housing rights while respecting reasonable safety concerns. We work with prosecutors and the court to establish visiting schedules that allow you to retrieve belongings or temporarily stay at your residence while maintaining distance from the protected person.
California law requires police to arrest the primary aggressor in domestic violence situations. Pasadena police follow this mandatory arrest policy, which means officers must make an arrest even if the alleged victim doesn’t request it. This policy exists to protect victims but sometimes results in arrests of innocent or partially responsible parties. Understanding this policy helps explain why you may have been arrested even though you believed you were acting in self-defense or the alleged victim was equally responsible. Early legal intervention is critical to challenge the arrest and investigation.
If you’ve been served with a Domestic Violence in Pasadena, time is running out. Don’t face this crisis alone. Contact Tu Defensor Criminalista immediately for a free, confidential consultation about your case.
Remember:
We proudly serve clients throughout Pasadena and surrounding Los Angeles County communities including:
We handle cases at Pasadena Superior Courthouse and throughout Los Angeles County’s court system.
Attorney Armando Josué Cespedes is rated 5.0 on Avvo, with 34 five-star reviews from clients praising his dedication, professionalism, and results. Many note how his trial skills and attention to detail led to reduced charges or outright dismissals.
English English
Español de MéxicoThank you! We need your help. Would you share your experience on one of these sites?
If you have concerns you wish to address privately
