The Sheriff's office in Logan County, Colorado is looking for a 64-year-old man who “has felony warrants for attempted second-degree murder, vehicular assault, felony menacing, and first-degree assault on an at-risk adult.” Sheriff's deputies in Logan County say that the man attacked his father at the father's home and is reportedly driving a green Chevy Tahoe.

Domestic Violence in Washington

Domestic violence charges can be tricky and confusing because they can arise in a number of circumstances. In Washington, individuals do not necessarily have to be married or living together for an incident to qualify as domestic violence. The Washington Code states, "domestic violence" means:

• Physical harm, bodily injury, assault, or the infliction of fear of imminent physical harm, bodily injury or assault, between family or household members;
• Sexual assault of one family or household member by another; or
• Stalking of one family or household member by another family or household member.”

Okay, so who does qualify as a “family or household member” in Washington? Could a man attacking his father, who does not live with him, constitute domestic violence? In the state of Washington, the law states that a "family or household members" means the following.

• Spouses, domestic partners, former spouses, former domestic partners, persons who have a child in common regardless of whether they have been married or have lived together at any time.
• Adult persons related by blood or marriage, adult persons who are presently residing together or who have resided together in the past.
• Persons sixteen years of age or older who are presently residing together or who have resided together in the past and who have or have had a dating relationship.
• Persons sixteen years of age or older with whom a person sixteen years of age or older has or has had a dating relationship.
• Persons who have a biological or legal parent-child relationship, including stepparents and stepchildren and grandparents and grandchildren.

So, in Washington, people who have a biological or legal parent-child relationship can be arrested on domestic violence charges.

Domestic Violence Assault in the First Degree

Domestic violence charges can have many other charges attached. As is the case in the scenario above, the man has a warrant for assault in the first degree. Assault in the first degree is the most serious of the four degrees of assault. In Washington, an individual “is guilty of assault in the first degree if he or she, with intent to inflict great bodily harm:

• Assaults another with a firearm or any deadly weapon or by any force or means likely to produce great bodily harm or death; or
• Administers, exposes, or transmits to or causes to be taken by another, poison, the human immunodeficiency virus, or any other destructive or noxious substance; or
• Assaults another and inflicts great bodily harm.

Assault in the first degree is a class A felony.”

The Law Offices of Steve Karimi Can Help

A domestic violence charge has the potential to lead to very steep fines and penalties. If you have been arrested for any domestic violence charge, you need the skilled legal assistance available at the Law Offices of Steve Karimi. Attorney Steve Karimi is a top rated Seattle criminal defense attorney. He is passionate about defending his clients and when it comes to your future, you need the very best and most dedicated lawyer possible. Contact the Law Offices of Steve Karimi today.