Assault charges against a family member are serious no matter where they are levied, but they can be particularly problematic in King County, where the state prosecutes offenders to the fullest extent of the law. Whether your anger gets the better of you, resulting in an altercation with a family member, or you are simply a parent trying to deal with an out-of-control child, you should be aware of how the system works in domestic violence cases and of what your rights are. A Seattle man learned this the hard way after being charged with assaulting his mother.

Staff at the Harborview Medical Center contacted the police on Dec. 9, three days after admitting a 67-year-old woman with extensive injuries, including broken bones in her hands, arms and clavicle, as well as serious injuries to her fingers. The staff was told she sustained the injuries in a fall, but they believed she had been battered with a blunt object.

Police officials reported they believed the woman to be underweight and suffering from alcohol withdrawal symptoms. The woman allegedly made accusations of bodily injury by her son, prompting them to go to her home. They found a metal level at the Magnolia home that they believed was used in the incident. They also found clothes and sheets that had blood on them. The police subsequently arrested the woman's 49-year-old son and charged him with second-degree assault. He was given a $500,000 bail, despite his claims that his mother had fallen while drunk.

Family violence charges are serious and those accused should act quickly and know their rights. A domestic violence conviction can have civil, professional, financial and criminal ramifications, so those accused must understand the potential issues that can arise to protect themselves and their future.

Source: Seattle PI, "Charge: Seattle man savagely beat mother," Levi Pulkkinen, Dec. 20, 2012