Amber Portwood, one of Indiana’s own reality celebrities made famous on the Teen Mom franchise on MTV, has certainly been no stranger to highly publicized domestic disputes. Recently, she was arrested on domestic violence charges against the father of her 1-year-old son James. One count of domestic battery, one felony count of criminal recklessness with a deadly weapon, and one felony count of domestic battery round out the recent charges the Teen Mom star faces.

The response from Andrew Glennon, the father of her son, was to file for full custody of their son in addition to requesting child support. He did request that Portwood receive supervised visitation. Her long history of domestic violence and substance abuse has led to the loss of custody of her daughter, Leah, whom she shares with Gary Shirley. Shirley has become a Teen Mom star, as well.

Due to the nature of her charges, criminal court with the potential for prison time is on the table.  It is reported that she became violent with Glennon after a dispute. Glennon claims in the court papers that Portwood is unable to provide appropriate care for her son because of her refusal to take the medications she is prescribed to help her with her mental-health condition. Glennon and Portwood remain in a battle over the custody of their son. While the no-contact order remains in place between Portwood and Glennon, it was lifted with relation to her son and she has been allowed to have supervised visits in the interim.

Domestic Abuse Charges in Indiana

In the state of Indiana, when one is charged with domestic battery, it is considered a Class A misdemeanor and it can come with a sentence of one year in jail and a $5,000 fine. This classification changes when there is a child under the age of 16 present, which in Amber’s case was cited as part of the altercation. Additionally, if there are unrelated domestic battery convictions, which Portwood holds, it is moved to a Class D felony. The Class D felony has much steeper penalties, including up to three years in prison with a $10,000 fine.

Protective orders are used in Indiana family law when one member of a family commits at least one of the following:

• Causes physical harm or attempts to harm another family member
• Causes a family member to fear potential physical harm
• Forces a family member to engage in sexual activity by force
• Abuses or kills an animal without cause as a means to threaten a family member

Protective orders can be filed by the threatened or abused members of a family and parents can file a protective order on behalf of their children. It is a means to provide a legal shield from harm to family members that are abused or have a high potential for abuse.

Finding a Family Law Attorney in Indiana

Not every dispute over custody or every parental relationship is involved in domestic battery.  Still, the process of separating from your partner when children are involved is quite challenging and emotional for all parties. When you are facing a custody battle with your partner and an end to your relationship, you need the help of an experienced Indiana family law attorney. Christopher L. Arrington, P.C., has a long history of providing legal guidance and representation for residents of Danville, Plainfield, Avon, Brownsburg, and the surrounding communities who are facing divorce, personal injury, child custody, and criminal charges.

Contact my Danville family law firm at 317-745-4494 today so we can discuss your situation.  As a caring and effective Danville child custody lawyer, I am committed to providing the most comprehensive and cost-effective legal services to help you with your case.