Domestic violence is more common than many people realize. It’s a crime that has significant consequences, including possible jail time and a loss of gun ownership privileges.
In Colorado, some domestic violence cases may include domestic violence-related theft. One man from Colorado Springs was recently sentenced to three days in jail for such a charge. According to news reports, the man’s now-ex-girlfriend alleged that he sold a dog belonging to her.
The man contends the dog was his to sell or give away. The dog was adopted, but the man’s ex-girlfriend’s name was the only name that appeared on the paperwork. The man, however, says that the dog belonged to him and he gave it away. He told a local news station “That’s what I believed I had to do, so that’s what I did.” He doesn’t have any regrets, even for being locked up for three days for his actions.
The ex-girlfriend says the man sold the animal, but the man says that it was given away to a family that lives in Breckenridge, Colorado.
As this case demonstrates, there is not always physical violence involved in domestic violence incidents. The prosecutor will determine what charges to levy against a defendant, depending on the complaint made by the alleged victim.
Domestic violence victims often file for restraining orders. This type of court order may keep a parent from seeing their children or even living in his or her home. Convictions for domestic violence can result in significant penalties that are based upon several factors, such as the severity of the victim’s injuries or the number of times someone has been charged with a similar crime. An experienced Colorado family law attorney can provide valuable information about the charges, penalties and possible defense strategies to have the best chance at a positive outcome in the case.
Source: The Denver Channel, “Man jailed for giving away ex-girlfriend’s dog” No author given, Mar. 03, 2014