Palm Beach Man Accused of Aggravated Battery

NBC Miami reports that a Palm Beach County man was arrested Monday after he allegedly chased his girlfriend down the street and beat her with a hammer, according to police reports.

The accused faces a charge of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon for the alleged hammer attack that happened during the early morning hours.

A judge ordered the West Palm Beach resident held without bond.

Authorities state that the accused and the alleged victim live in an apartment together, making this an incident of domestic violence.  Florida law defines "domestic violence" as occurring between "family or household member by another family or household member."

Florida law further defines "family or household member" as "spouses, former spouses, persons related by blood or marriage, persons who are presently residing together as if a family or who have resided together in the past as if a family, and persons who are parents of a child in common regardless of whether they have been married. With the exception of persons who have a child in common, the family or household members must be currently residing or have in the past resided together in the same single dwelling unit."

Domestic violence cases are taken very seriously by police officers and prosecutors. Unless your domestic violence case is dismissed, you cannot seal a domestic violence charge, even when adjudication is withheld.  It doesn't matter if the charge is a misdemeanor.

It is important to fight your domestic violence charges.  Call me, a criminal defense attorney, today if your case or your loved one's case is in Miami-Dade or Broward.