In Washington State, a person will be charged with interfering with the reporting of domestic violence after committing a domestic violence crime and preventing or attempting to prevent the alleged victim or a witness from any of the following:
- Calling 911
- Making a police report
- Receiving medical assistance
A necessary element of this charge is that an act of domestic violence must have occurred prior to the alleged reporting interference.
What are the penalties for Domestic Violence Interfering?
In WA State, interfering with the reporting of domestic violence (RCW 9A.36.150) is a gross misdemeanor, which means that there is a maximum sentence of 364 days in jail and a $5000 fine. While you are unlikely to face maximum penalties (especially if you are a first time offender) any conviction can have life-changing consequences.
An arrest will likely result in the issuance of a No Contact Order while the case is pending, which can be extremely disruptive to normal life. Additionally, probation, electronic home monitoring, and treatment for substance abuse can be ordered by the court.
What if I didn’t know that my partner was trying to call 911?
A simple misunderstanding about the nature of the call is a reasonable defense to an interfering with the reporting of DV charge. An important part of our job is to fight these types of false or misleading accusations.
If convicted, will I lose my gun rights?
Certain domestic violence convictions in Washington State can result in the loss of firearm rights, but interfering with the reporting of domestic violence is not one of them. However, if the underlying domestic violence charge that was reported is assault or harassment, a conviction for one of those charges will result in a loss of gun rights.
Will a conviction affect my ability to get a job, housing, or travel?
Unfortunately, it often will. Click here to read about the non-criminal consequences of DV.
What is the best way to avoid a conviction?
There are two cases involved. The underlying domestic violence case and the interfering with DV case. If you win the underlying DV case, you also win the interfering with the reporting of DV case. If the underlying DV case is not won, the interfering case can still be won and defended separately.
It is a good idea to avoid speaking with the alleged victim, law enforcement, and really anybody else about what happened. An attorney experienced with domestic violence can carefully tell your side of the story.
At Beckwith DV Law, we have a proven track record for successfully defending all charges that relate to domestic violence. We fight charges in Puget Sound courts that include Seattle, Bellevue, Everett, Tacoma, Kent, Bremerton, & Olympia, WA.
Call us today for a free consultation.
