Ashby

FACTS

Jeff and Michelle married in 2005 and separated in 2016. At that time, they had four children between the ages of 4 and 10 years old. On July 28, 2016, the court granted Michelle’s ex-parte DVRO based on multiple incidents of domestic violence.

I. Original DVRO 2016 – Trial Judge M. Marc Kelly

In her request for a DVRO, Michelle described a pattern of escalating verbal and physical abuse. In addition to describing two recent altercations in detail, Michelle provided the following information: “Whenever we are home and an argument erupts, Jeff will make threats to throw me out on the street with nothing, and take our children away from me and never let me see them again. He will use intimidation, such as taking his handgun, which he carries at all times on his belt holster, off his belt and placing it in a conspicuous place for me to see it during the argument. I am truly afraid for my life whenever he does this, as I don’t know if this time will be the time he snaps and decides to shoot me. [¶] Jeff’s anger has been getting worse and worse over the past several years. As things have gotten more financially strained for us, due to his spora[d]ic employment status, his…