Our Costa Mesa domestic violence criminal defense attorneys were interested to see a very public fight going on between a celebrity couple in Huntington Beach. Former pornography actress Jenna Jameson has accused her boyfriend of four years, mixed martial arts fighter Tito Ortiz, of physically attacking her. The Orange County Register reported April 27 that Jameson's father reportedly called police around 10 a.m. on April 26 to report that a man had pushed his girlfriend down. Ortiz was arrested and held at Huntington Beach city jail for part of the day, then released in the afternoon. He was not permitted to return to the couple's home because Jameson has an emergency protective order against him.
Ortiz and Jameson give different accounts of what happened. According to the Register, quoting celebrity gossip site TMZ, Jameson claims Ortiz pushed her into a bathtub after she said something that bruised his ego. She was wearing an arm brace when she left her home later the day of the incident, and claims she suffered two torn ligaments in her shoulder. She said she and the couple's twin sons, born in 2009, are all right, but that she will press charges. Meanwhile, Ortiz called a press conference Monday night, at which he and his domestic violence defense lawyer denied the allegations. He said Jameson has been addicted to prescription painkiller OxyContin for more than a year, and that the confrontation happened after he confronted her about finding some of the drug. He told the press that he wants to protect his family from the drug addiction he saw growing up.
Even though this is a high-profile couple, our Lake Forest domestic abuse criminal defense lawyers think this is a good example of how many charges of domestic abuse or spousal battery are "he said/she said" situations. If no one else was in the house but their one-year-old children, no one can provide strong evidence about whose version of the incident is more correct. In fact, even if Jameson's father was there, his testimony still may be suspect because of his natural bias toward his daughter. This means that both Ortiz and the prosecution -- if any charges are ultimately filed -- may have to use circumstantial evidence, such as a history of domestic violence or a record of multiple OxyContin prescriptions. That's why it's crucial for domestic violence defendants to get the help of an experienced attorney with building and proving a strong case.
Howard Law, P.C. represents both men and women accused of domestic abuse, spousal battery or child abuse. Domestic violence charges are not minor charges in California. As Ortiz discovered, the accuser is entitled to an emergency protective order keeping the accused away from a shared home, children and belongings -- long before any allegations can be proven in court. Breaking that order for any reason results in further criminal charges. A conviction for domestic violence can mean a permanent protective order, restrictions on your ability to own a firearm, jail or prison time and other severe penalties. It can also cause problems in a divorce and child custody case. Our Oceanside domestic battery criminal defense attorneys defend our clients vigorously, forcing the prosecution to prove at every step why clients should face these harsh penalties.
If you're accused of domestic violence in southern California, don't wait before calling Howard Law, P.C. for help. To set up a free, confidential evaluation of your case, please contact us online or call 1-800-872-5925 today.
