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If you’ve been charged with domestic battery as a Class 4 felony, it’s probably a good idea for you to get in touch with a domestic battery defense lawyer immediately. The penalties of a conviction are harsh—and they can include time in jail, steep fines, and other consequences (including being served with an order of protection) that can have a negative impact on your life.

When is Domestic Battery Class 4 Felony?

Under Illinois law, domestic battery is a typically a Class A misdemeanor. However, when the crime is committed with a firearm, it becomes a felony.

Some prior convictions can also make domestic battery a Class 4 felony. The law says:

“Domestic battery is a Class 4 felony if the defendant has any prior conviction under this Code for first degree murder, attempt to commit first degree murder, aggravated domestic battery, aggravated battery, heinous battery, aggravated battery with a firearm, aggravated battery with a machine gun or a firearm equipped with a silencer, aggravated battery of a child, aggravated battery of an unborn child, aggravated battery of a senior citizen, stalking, aggravated stalking, criminal sexual assault, aggravated criminal sexual assault, kidnapping, aggravated kidnapping, predatory criminal sexual assault of a child, aggravated criminal sexual abuse, unlawful restraint, aggravated unlawful restraint, aggravated arson, or aggravated discharge of a firearm, or any prior conviction under the law of another jurisdiction for any offense that is substantially similar to the offenses listed in this Section, when any of these offenses have been committed against a family or household member.”

What to Do if You’re Charged With a Class 4 Felony for Domestic Battery

For most people, it’s essential to get in touch with a Chicago domestic battery defense lawyer as soon as possible. Ideally, you’ll talk to your attorney before you’re even charged with domestic battery—but that’s not always possible.

The sooner you get in touch with a lawyer, the sooner he can begin developing a strategy to get you the best possible outcome.

If you’ve been charged with a Class 4 felony involving domestic battery, call us at 847-920-4540 right away for a free case review. We’ll evaluate your situation, examine the evidence, and put together a plan to defend you and protect your rights.