Legal Question in Criminal Law in New Mexico

Recently my boyfriend and I took in my boyfriends brother and his girlfriend because they recently had a baby and no home. Last night, the girlfriend, was calling me names and attacked me in my home which I, in turn, defended myself. She came at me with a hairdryer and other objects when I, again, defended myself. We told them they had to go. We called the police and filed a report and later, was told by my boyfriends family, that we had charges pressed against us and she had gone to the hospital. She was fine when she left here. I was told felony charges were being pressed against me. I have never been arrested. I work in the medical field and this could go against my job. How is it possible she can attack me in my home and I get charges pressed against me? What do i do now? She has been arrested before for domestic violence. Help.


Asked on 12/30/09, 11:16 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
Charles Aspinwall Charles S. Aspinwall, J.D., LLC

Unless you are notified in writing that you have been charged with a crime, there is nothing you can do. Family members often make threats in the heat of passion that they do not later carry out. If you are charged you will need legal representation, but remember that you are always legally entitled to defend yourself from physical attack provided the force you use is reasonable under the circumstances.

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Answered on 1/08/10, 7:15 am


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