Domestic Assault

Domestic assault & 209A defense

Domestic allegations move fast and carry immediate consequences — a no-contact order, removal from your home, and a lasting mark on your record.

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What's at stake

Domestic assault charges in Massachusetts are treated with special seriousness. An arrest can trigger an immediate no-contact order, bar you from your own home, and affect custody and firearms rights. Many cases also involve a 209A abuse-prevention (restraining) order sought in the civil session.

Allegations sometimes arise from heated arguments, misunderstandings, or a desire for leverage in a divorce or custody dispute. Because the stakes are so high — including mandatory considerations at arraignment and the risk of a violation charge — these cases demand careful, immediate defense.

How it works

How we defend domestic cases

We protect your rights on both tracks: the criminal charge and any 209A order.

01

Step 1

Address the restraining order

We prepare for the 209A hearing, where the order can be contested — the outcome affects where you can live and go.
02
Step 2

Investigate the allegation

We examine the 911 call, injuries, witness accounts, and any motive to fabricate or exaggerate.
- Is there independent evidence, or only the accuser's word?
- Is there a custody or divorce dispute driving the allegation?
- Was there a lawful basis for the arrest and any statements?
03

Step 3

Litigate pretrial issues

We move to suppress improperly obtained statements and challenge weak or inconsistent evidence.
04

Step 4

Resolve or try the case

We pursue dismissal, diversion, or reduced charges where possible, and try the case when the evidence should be tested.

Domestic assault questions

There's a restraining order against me — what do I do?

Follow it exactly, even if you believe it's unfair — a violation is a separate crime. Then get counsel immediately. A 209A order can be contested at the hearing, and how you respond in the first days matters.

Can the charge be dropped if my partner recants?

The prosecutor decides whether to proceed, not the alleged victim, and can pursue the case even if they recant. A recantation or reluctant witness can still meaningfully change the outcome, but it does not automatically end the case.

Will this affect my gun rights or my job?

It can. Domestic charges and orders can affect firearms possession, professional licensing, and employment, and can carry immigration consequences. We factor all of it into the defense strategy.

Case results

Actual results Attorney Reinhardt has obtained in matters like yours. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome — every case turns on its own facts.

Not guilty by reason of insanity — combat veteran

The client, an Army veteran, was charged with assault and battery of his girlfriend during a psychotic episode. He had deployed multiple times and seen extensive combat in Afghanistan, where members of his unit were killed or injured, and was diagnosed with PTSD, depression, and anxiety disorder. On the day in question he was barricading his apartment door against non-existent intruders; when his girlfriend tried to intervene, he pushed her onto a couch. He was hospitalized at a V.A. facility, and his girlfriend was clear he did not intend to assault her. Attorney Reinhardt retained a forensic psychologist whose detailed evaluation concluded the client was not criminally responsible at the time of the incident. At a jury-waived trial, Attorney Reinhardt presented the expert's testimony and report, and the judge entered a verdict of not guilty by reason of lack of criminal responsibility.