LOCATION: PENNSYLVANIA
I have been domestically abused by my sibling for 6 years (broken bones and stitches), and I have protected them from getting in trouble every single time. They have severe anger and behavioral issues.
Last month, I got way too drunk and started yelling at my parent and sibling for letting the abuse happen. It was an out of the ordinary trauma induced event in my opinion, bc I’ve never been violent or in trouble with the law in my life. I started pushing my mom, who doesn’t ever try to defend me from the abuse, saying how would you like if someone put their hands on you. The abusive sibling then body slammed me and put me in a chokehold. So I ran to my room and grabbed my gun and pointed it at the sibling saying if you come near me I’ll kill you. I then put the gun down and away and we all sat down to talk and then my sibling came at me charging me and it was like a 3 person brawl at that point. Cops were called. I was arrested bc i was pointed out as the initial aggressor and was also very drunk compared to the other two I was crying and not explaining anything well at all. The sibling since has expressed to me they made a mistake they didn’t want any charges pressed they just called 911 out of anger but that’s not how the law works once the police are called yup I’m being charged. My family is on my side completely. Bc as abusive as they are, they know I don’t deserve this.
What are my options here? I can plea, but I also really just don’t want charges I have a lot to lose in terms of employment and school. I messed up in the eyes of the law, but my family doesn’t think I deserve this. My own abusers even have sympathy for me. Can they refuse to testify? Can a case even proceed with initial police statements, police there (after the incident occurred), and a legal gun in evidence? Without the testimony of mom or sibling?
Comments
You need a lawyer. Since a gun was involved, penalties can get way more severe.
There’s a reason in DV we don’t care what the family wants or not. It’s now the state vs you not your family vs you.
Your family can refuse to cooperate during the investigation, but if it gets to trial and they are requested to testify they would need to comply.
You really need a lawyer.
So there I was way too drunk
Guilty