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DOMESTIC BATTERY — TOUCH OR STRIKE (F.S. § 784.03(1)(a)1); CONDITION OF RELEASE VIOLATION
CASE DISMISSED (NOLLE PROSEQUI)
Santa Rosa County, FL
February 19, 2026
Client faced compounding charges in Santa Rosa County: Domestic Battery — Touch or Strike (F.S. § 784.03(1)(a)1) and Violation of Conditions of Release, creating a cascading legal crisis. The condition of release violation alleged that the client had [REDACTED] contact with the alleged victim in violation of a no-contact order imposed as a condition of pretrial release on a prior case. This second arrest dramatically escalated the client's legal exposure — not only did it carry its own penalties (up to 1 year on the battery and additional penalties for the release violation), but it placed the client's bond in the prior case at immediate risk of revocation and created a pattern allegation that prosecutors could use to argue for enhanced penalties and pretrial detention. The combined charges threatened incarceration on multiple fronts, a permanent domestic violence record, bond revocation on the prior matter, and the devastating collateral consequences that accompany any DV conviction in Florida.
The defense team recognized that these interrelated cases demanded a unified strategic approach. We conducted a thorough investigation of both the underlying battery allegation and the circumstances surrounding the alleged condition of release violation, including [REDACTED] review of the specific bond conditions, the nature of the alleged contact, and the [REDACTED] circumstances that led to the second arrest. Our analysis identified significant evidentiary problems with both charges — including evidence that [REDACTED] and that the alleged contact [REDACTED]. Through aggressive pretrial advocacy, sustained written correspondence with the State Attorney's Office, and clear preparation for trial on both matters, the State ultimately dismissed both charges via Nolle Prosequi. This dual dismissal eliminated the threat of incarceration, removed the bond revocation risk on the prior case, avoided a domestic violence conviction, and preserved the client's clean record. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes; each case depends on its facts and circumstances.