Legal Question in Criminal Law in California

Without the complete facts of the case, it's impossible to answer your question. His lawyer will have access to all the police reports, and is in a much better position to answer questions than a stranger on the Internet.

If he can't afford to hire his own lawyer, the judge will appoint one from the Public Defender's office when he goes to court.

Well, you apparently called the police and had him arrested. The DA policy is to vigorously prosecute, regardless of whether the victim recants and begs. They take that seriously. That is because of the frequency that victims are intimidated and terrorized into recanting. He faces jail and other penalties. If you want to help him, hire him an attorney. By the way, if the police or DA issued a domestic violence restraining order against him, as they usually do, he probably became a 'prohibited person' barred under federal and state law from ever owning or possessing guns and ammo. Make sure he understands that.