#1
Violating a criminal protective order amounts to contempt of court and is a criminal offense under California Penal Code 166(a)(4).
Protective orders and restraining orders are issued by different courts and it is important to understand their differences.
Watch this video to understand:
- What is and is not allowed under a protective order
- The difference between a restraining order and a protective order.
- If a case is dismissed will the protective order automatically be removed?
Judges can issue protective orders in connection with both criminal and civil cases and often issue protective orders in connection with California domestic-violence related offenses.
A violation of a civil restraining order is prosecuted under penal code 273.6 and is still a crime even though the order was issued in civil court.
The Elements The Prosecutor Must Prove For Violating A Protective Order
#2
In order to convict a defendant of violating a protective order, the prosecutor must prove the following:
- There was a valid protective order in place that was legally issued by a judge1;
- The defendant had knowledge of the protective order’s existence and terms2
- And the defendant intentionally violated the terms of the order.
Defenses To Charges Of Violating A Protective Order
#3
Fortunately, there are several effective defenses to charges of violating a protective order:
You Lacked Knowledge Of The Protective Order
If the defendant did not know that there was a protective order in place, then he cannot knowingly violate the order.
This includes having the opportunity to read the order even if you did not actually read the order3.
You Lacked The Intention To Violate
Even if the defendant had knowledge of the protective order and its terms, the defendant still cannot be convicted of violating the order if his alleged actions in violating the order were not intentional.
What If The Meeting Was Intentional?
If the defendant intentionally went to see his wife in violation of the order, knowing that he would see her, the prosecutor can prove the necessary intent.
This is true even if the victim asked the defendant to meet them. The victim’s invitation to meet is not a defense to violating a protective order.
You Were Falsely Accused
Another available defense is a false accusation.
In some cases, a defendant can show that the alleged victim was simply lying when she reported that the defendant contacted her in violation of the protective order.
In the absence of corroborating evidence, the case may be reduced to he said/she said situation in which the prosecutor may have a difficult time carrying their burden of proving the case beyond a reasonable doubt.
Penalties For Violating A Protective Order
#4
Protective order violations are usually charged as misdemeanor offenses.
A misdemeanor offense carries a penalty of up to one year in county jail, probation, fines of up to $1000.
The crime can be charged as a felony under certain circumstances, depending on whether the defendant has previously been convicted of violating a protective order and whether the alleged violation resulted in any injuries to the victim.
Penalty For Felony Violation of a Protective Order:
The penalties can be even more severe, including time in state prison, and fines of up to $10,000.
Important Information
Information On The Criminal Court Process
- Step #1 In A Criminal Case – The Arraignment
- Who “Presses Charges” – The Prosecutor Or Victim?
- The Plea Bargain Process Between Prosecutor & Defense Attorney
- Expunging A Conviction
How We Can Help
As a former prosecutor, Diana Weiss Aizman of the Aizman Law Firm has extensive experience and unique insight into the defense of charges of protective order violations.
Contact the Aizman Law Firm right away at 818-351-9555 for a free confidential consultation if you are charged with violating a protective order under PC 166(a)(4).
Footnotes
- Order Must Be Lawfully Issued. Pen. Code, § 166(a)(4); People v. Gonzalez (1996) 12 Cal.4th 804, 816–817 [50 Cal.Rptr.2d 74, 910 P.2d 1366]; In re Berry (1968) 68 Cal.2d 137, 147 [65 Cal.Rptr. 273, 436 P.2d 273] [↩]
- Knowledge of Order Required. People v. Saffell (1946) 74 Cal.App.2d Supp. 967, 979 [168 P.2d 497] [↩]
- Must Have Opportunity to Read but Need Not Actually Read Order. People v. Poe (1965) 236 Cal.App.2d Supp. 928, 938–941 [47 Cal.Rptr. 670]; People v. Brindley (1965) 236 Cal.App.2d Supp. 925, 927–928 [47 Cal.Rptr. 668], both decisions affd. sub nom. People v. Von Blum (1965) 236 Cal.App.2d Supp. 943 [47 Cal.Rptr. 679] [↩]
If there is a criminal protective order and the person being restrained emails the protective party a message that they were going to call the persons job and get them fired, is it a violation even though there is peacefull communication allowed regarding children?
The mere sending of an email from the restrained party to the protected party after the issuance of the order is a violation of that order.
What about filing a TRO response . Through the court clerk who then tells you have to mail it to all parties involved and the Response is filed and stamped and you send it certified mail ? Case was even dismissed . What are the chances of it being prosecuted for a violation ?
It depends on whether it was properly served.
If the protected party comes to see the restrained at there place of residency is that counted as a violation of said protection order??!
if person asking for restraining order continually calls texts and asks for money from defendant in order is she not also breaking said order
If you have a court order to have possession of a vehicle and the person who has the restraining order takes the vehicle. Can you be in violation of the restraining order if you send a third party to go retrieve the vehicle from their home?
You are not permitted to have any communication with the protected party, even through a third party. The best way to handle the situation is to have an attorney or the Sheriff assist you in obtaining the vehicle.
Depending on how the order is written, yes. Usually, you are able to communicate through the attorney of record only.
I wonder if you can answer this for me please. I have a protection order against someone, he recently got out of prison but hes now sending me money orders in the mail. I do not want them, i do not want contacted from him. Nothing else is in the letter but the check, would he be violating his order by sending me these checks in the mail?
Thank you so much!
Highly likely. Unless there is a provision in the order indicating otherwise, he is not permitted to have any contact with you at all. This includes sending you money orders in the mail. You may report this to the prosecutor in the case to determine how they intend to enforce the protective order.
Say someone I filed a restraining order against lied about having a weapon. What do I do? And what would the outcome be if they were able to prove they lied?
I have a family member that was released from jail two months ago for domestic violence , he was released and had three years probation as well as domestic violence classes and a court ordered restraining order , last night him and his gf (victim) were pulled over and the cops ran both their ID’s and noticed that they weren’t supposed to be together so he took my brother in , he awaits his court hearing tomorrow . They got back together as a mutual agreement . Is there anyway he could prove this ? Or is he forsure going to be sent to county ? For violation of code 166A
I was assaulted by the mother of my children. She recieved felony charges, then has her boyfriend message me.
He’s sent unsolicited sexual pictures, insulted me.
The police say she has to talk to me or that she has to talk to my family and have them contact me.
She contacted my fiance and told her a lot about who I use to be along with some lies.
Idk what to do,
The police kinda take her side more less on most things.
On top of this I’ve been alienated from my son’s.