Restraining Order Violations

Known as a protective order in Texas, any individual may file a restraining order if she or he has been hurt or threatened by someone she knows personally and has reason to believe that the perpetrator will threaten or hurt her again. Protective orders place strict limitations on the subject regarding his or her interactions with or proximity to the filer of the order. If the subject violates the protective order, he or she may be arrested on criminal charges. Disobeying a restraining order can therefore have very serious consequences that can complicate your life and even land you in jail.

Consequences of Violating a Protective Order

By disobeying a restraining order, you are directly disregarding an order made by a court judge. Doing so may carry a number of penalties, including:

• Arrest without a warrant
• Held in jail without bail
• Conviction of a Class A misdemeanor for a first or second offense
• Up to one year in jail
• Up to $4,000 in fines

If you have a history of violating restraining orders and already have two previous convictions, you may face the following penalties:

• Conviction of a third-degree felony for a third or subsequent offense
• 2 to 10 years in prison
• Up to $10,000 in fines

Clearly even a single violation of a restraining order may carry some heavy consequences. If you have been charged with a protective order violation, consider contacting a criminal defense attorney immediately. A criminal lawyer will represent you in court to ensure that you are given a fair trial and will scrutinize all of the evidence brought against you to ensure that you remain innocent until proven guilty.

Contact Us

For sound legal advice and assistance with your criminal case, please contact experienced Austin criminal lawyer Ian Inglis today at 512-472-1950.