What are the consequences if I am charged with domestic violence?
“The consequences for domestic violence charge can be very severe. Domestic violence is a felony, depending on how the district attorney charges for particular individual. The crime is designated as 273.5 of the California Vehicle Code, and can carry four years, sometimes more, in state prison.
Even if you get probation, you could do a year in the county jail. There’s also the possibility on a felony charge of that nature, that you could be required, if on probation, to attend a domestic violence counseling class. You may have other terms and conditions of probation associated with that, including a criminal restraining order that you have no contact with the alleged victim.
Misdemeanors follow the same pattern, but there are not quite as severe of consequences for a misdemeanor.” -Criminal Defense Lawyer Daniel L. Greenberg