Last week, Oklahoma City police responded to a domestic violence call in southwest Oklahoma City.  The call alleged that a man hit his girlfriend's 3-year-old child in the head with the butt of a shotgun.  When police arrived on the scene, however, they found that the child had no visible injuries.  

Evidence Domestic Violence

While they found no evidence of child abuse, police discovered the child's mother with marks on her neck and a bloody lip.  Through the investigation, police determined that there had indeed been a domestic altercation between the suspect, Mario Flores, 23, and his girlfriend.

According to the complainant, Flores accused the woman of infidelity.  He then allegedly armed himself with a shotgun, choking her with one hand and holding the gun in the other.  She alleges Flores threatened to kill her, threw her to the floor, and kicked her.

Flores, a convicted felon, was ultimately arrested for domestic abuse by strangulation and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. Additionally, police determined that the shotgun Flores was carrying was stolen, and he faces additional charges of possession of a stolen firearm and possession of a firearm after former conviction of a felony.

Punishment Under Oklahoma Law

If convicted of the crimes of which he has been accused, Flores faces significant jail time.  Under Oklahoma law, domestic violence is a felony that carries a sentence of up to four years in prison and fines up to $5000.  

Possession of a firearm while in the commission of a felony carries a sentence of up to 10 years for the first offense and up to 30 years for the second offense.  Possession of a firearm after former conviction of a felony also carries up to 10 years in prison. Flores will need an experienced Oklahoma criminal lawyer to help him navigate the domestic violence and firearm possession charges that he will face.  

An experienced domestic abuse lawyer will look at the facts of the case and the credibility of the witness, noting the false allegation of child abuse that originally called police to the residence.