Family relationships can be some of the most complex. Sure, there are some families wherein everyone gets along, but that is not a given. Domestic violence is its own kind of charge, after all. Emotions can run strong between family members, including a mother and her adult daughter.

Last Friday, Arizona authorities responded to a dispute taking place between a woman and her mother. The daughter reportedly hit her mother with a wooden piece of furniture because she believed her mom had "inappropriately touched" her young son. As a result of the incident, the daughter might soon be charged with aggravated assault. Further investigation will determine whether the state will formally charge the suspect.

According to sources, there could be some gray area in this matter. Based on reports of the suspect's behavior, it sounds as though authorities will need to carefully determine her mental state during the reported assault. The suspect reportedly told officers that she had hit her mother, but she also supposedly told them things that portray her mental state as compromised.

The Tucson Citizen indicates that the suspect talked about unusual issues with police, including witchcraft and Mormonism. She also reportedly suggested to officials that she had been a victim of domestic violence at the hands of her son's father.

It sounds like authorities will have a lot of circumstances to look at in order to determine how the system should best address this heated and seemingly complex family matter. An aggravated assault charge could be serious for the defendant, especially if the system looks at the wooden instrument she reportedly used against her mother as a reason to escalate the charge to a "dangerous offense." The "dangerous" classification is more serious than a "violent offense" and would mean mandatory prison time if the defendant is convicted.

Source

Tucson Citizen: "Woman accused of beating mother with piece of wood," Alex Ferri, Sep. 12, 2011