Theft Defense Attorney in Tri-Cities
Arrested for Domestic Violence in Kennewick?
We start working on your defense the day you call, fighting for you, and putting a founder who spent years as a prosecutor now on your side.
- Practicing Criminal Defense Since 2016
- Former Prosecutor
- Gross Misdemeanor to Felony Case
- Flat-rate fees
- Flexible payment plans available
A domestic violence accusation puts your record, your rights, and often your ability to see your own home or your kids on the line within hours of a 911 call. At Gideon’s Associates PLLC, we’re a domestic abuse attorney team that steps in immediately to protect you while the case is still being built against you.
We’ve defended people throughout Benton and Franklin Counties against every level of domestic violence charge, from a first-time gross misdemeanor to a felony enhancement. As a criminal defense attorney handling domestic violence cases day in and day out, we know the Kennewick courts, the local prosecutors, and how these cases actually get won.
Why You Need a Domestic Assault Lawyer Before Your First Court Date
In Washington, domestic violence cases don’t move like other criminal cases. Once police respond to a domestic violence call, officers are generally required to make an arrest when they have probable cause to believe an assault or a threat of assault happened within the previous four hours, regardless of whether the alleged victim wants charges filed. That single policy is why so many domestic violence arrests happen based on one side of the story, told in the heat of the moment.
As your domestic abuse attorney, we start working your case the same way the state starts working theirs: immediately. That means:
We Fight for Your Release Conditions From Day One
A no-contact order is almost automatic in these cases. If you share a home, a lease, or custody of children with the alleged victim, that order can put you out of your own house before you've even been arraigned. We push the court, at the earliest possible hearing, for release terms that don't unnecessarily upend your life while the case is pending.
We Attack the Case Prosecutors Actually Have
Most domestic violence cases in Kennewick and Pasco rest on one person's statement, sometimes recanted, sometimes inconsistent, sometimes given to police in the middle of a chaotic scene. We interview witnesses ourselves, review body camera and 911 audio, and look for the physical evidence — or lack of it — that the initial report glossed over.
We Understand What's Really at Stake
A domestic violence conviction in Washington carries consequences well beyond the sentence itself. It can strip your right to possess a firearm, show up on background checks for years, and follow you into custody and family law proceedings even if those cases are handled separately. We build your defense with the full picture in view, not just the criminal charge in isolation.
What Counts as Domestic Violence Under Washington Law
Washington defines domestic violence far more broadly than most people expect. Under RCW 10.99.020, it isn’t limited to physical injury — the law also covers threats, property destruction, stalking, and conduct that causes reasonable fear of injury, so long as it occurs between family or household members, which includes current or former spouses, intimate partners, and people who live together.
The charge itself is usually an existing crime — assault, harassment, coercion, criminal trespass — with a “domestic violence” designation attached because of the relationship between the parties. That designation changes how the case is charged, how bail and no-contact conditions are set, and how prior offenses are counted against you later.
Repeat allegations carry a steep penalty jump. Under RCW 9A.36.041(3), what would normally be a fourth-degree assault — a gross misdemeanor — becomes a class C felony if the person has two or more prior adult domestic violence convictions within the past ten years. We look closely at whether prior convictions actually qualify before the state is allowed to use them that way.
A conviction can end your right to own a firearm. Under RCW 9.41.040, a domestic violence conviction involving a family or household member — even a misdemeanor such as fourth-degree assault, coercion, or stalking — can make it a felony to later possess a firearm. This is one of the most overlooked consequences of a quick plea, and we make sure you understand it before you agree to anything.
How We Handle Your Domestic Violence Case
01
Immediate case review
We go over the police report, the charging documents, and any no-contact order the same day we're retained, so nothing catches you off guard at arraignment.
02
Release and no-contact strategy
We argue for release terms that account for shared housing, children, and work obligations wherever the facts support it.
03
Independent investigation
We track down witnesses, surveillance footage, and phone or text records the police reports may have missed or ignored.
04
Negotiation or trial
We prepare every case as though it's going in front of a jury, which puts us in a stronger position at the negotiating table if a resolution short of trial makes sense for you.
05
Long-term consequence planning
We flag how the outcome could affect firearm rights, custody proceedings, or immigration status so you're deciding with the full picture, not just the criminal charge.
Why Kennewick and the Tri-Cities Trust Gideon's Associates
Our founder has practiced criminal defense since 2016 and previously worked as a prosecutor, which means we’ve seen how the state builds a domestic violence case from both sides of the table. We’re based at 501 N Quay St in Kennewick, minutes from the Benton & Franklin Counties Superior Court, and we’ve handled these cases in front of the judges and prosecutors you’ll be facing.
We also believe representation shouldn’t come down to what you can afford up front. As a domestic abuse attorney serving people of every income level, we offer flat-rate fees, monthly payment plans, sliding scale fees, and reduced-fee options based on need, so the strength of your defense isn’t decided by your bank account.
If you found us by searching for domestic violence lawyers near me, our office at 501 N Quay St in Kennewick puts us close to the courthouses you’ll actually be appearing in — not just a call center somewhere out of state.
If your case also involves a domestic violence restraining order, or falls under our broader violent crime defense or assault and battery defense practice, we handle those pieces together so your defense stays consistent across every proceeding tied to the same incident.
What Our CLient's Say
Frequently Asked Questions
Can charges be dropped if the alleged victim doesn't want to press charges?
Not automatically. In Washington, the prosecutor — not the alleged victim — decides whether to file and pursue domestic violence charges, and can proceed even if the other person recants or asks to drop the case. A skilled domestic violence defense attorney can still use that change in position as part of your defense.
Will I have to move out of my own home?
Possibly, at least temporarily. No-contact orders are common in domestic violence cases and can bar you from a shared residence even before trial. We push for narrower release conditions at your first court appearance whenever the facts support it.
Is domestic violence always a felony in Washington?
No. Most first-time domestic violence charges are gross misdemeanors, such as fourth-degree assault. It becomes a felony under specific circumstances, including repeat offenses, use of a weapon, or injuries serious enough to meet a higher assault degree.
Can a domestic violence conviction affect my ability to own a gun?
Yes. Under RCW 9.41.040, certain domestic violence convictions involving a family or household member can prohibit you from possessing a firearm, sometimes permanently, absent a formal restoration process.
Do I need a lawyer for a domestic battery or a "minor" domestic violence case?
Yes. Even a gross misdemeanor domestic violence conviction carries a permanent record, no-contact conditions, and potential firearm restrictions. Talking to a lawyer for your domestic violence case before you say anything to police or agree to a plea protects options you may not know you have — that’s true whether you found us as a domestic abuse attorney or a domestic assault lawyer.
Talk to a Domestic Abuse Attorney Before Your Next Court Date
The earlier we’re involved, the more options you have. If you’ve been arrested, cited, or are under investigation for a domestic violence offense in Kennewick, Pasco, Richland, or anywhere in the Tri-Cities, don’t wait for your arraignment to get an attorney in your corner.
