Actress Hayden Panettiere's Father Charged With Domestic Assault
On Sunday, August 10, 2008, Actress Hayden Panettiere hosted a charity benefit for the Whaleman's Foundation at the Beso Restaurant in Hollywood California. The guests included Alan Panettiere and Lesley Vogel, the parents of the hostess. Witnesses allegedly observed the pair involved in a heated argument as they left the event.
According to reports, in the early morning hours of August 11th, Alan Panettiere was arrested for allegedly striking his wife on her cheek that resulted in bruising. A Sheriff's official reported that alcohol was involved in the incident. Panettiere was eventually released on $50,000.00 cash bail. He will appear in court at a future date to answer to these charges.
If you have been charged with domestic assault and battery it is imperative that you speak with an experienced Boston Criminal Defense Attorney as soon as possible. Under Massachusetts law, in order to prove that you committed an assault and battery the government must prove that you intentionally touched another person without their person or that negligently touched another person causing personal injury. If convicted for assault and battery you can be sentenced to up to two and one half years in jail.
In a domestic context, this type of crime can have collateral consequences such as the issuance of a civil restraining order. Contacting a qualified Massachusetts Criminal Attorney is imperative to avoid having such an order issue. Once the order issues, any violation results in a criminal charge of violating a restraining order. Retaining the services of a Boston Attorney to develop a defense strategy to the underlying charge of assault and battery and to oppose the issuance of a restraining order is critical to successfully defend this type of crime.
