OCSD DEPUTY CHARGED WITH DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AGAINST WIFE AND VIOLATING PROTECTIVE ORDER BY ATTEMPTING TO OBTAIN FIREARM WHILE OUT ON BAIL

SANTA ANA – An Orange County Sheriff’s Department (OCSD) deputy has been charged with committing domestic violence against his wife and then violating a protective order by attempting to obtain a firearm while out of custody on bail. Travis Christopher Unholz, 36, Trabuco Canyon, is charged with one felony count of domestic battery with corporal injury, one felony count of attempted possession of a firearm in violation of a protective order, two misdemeanor counts of child abuse, one misdemeanor count of the violation of a protective order, and a sentencing enhancement for crime-bail-crime. The term “crime-bail-crime” indicates that the defendant committed a crime while out of custody on bail for another criminal offense. If convicted on all counts, Unholz faces a maximum sentence of six years and eight months in state prison.

The People will be requesting Unholz be held without bail at his arraignment tomorrow, Friday, Feb. 4, 2011, at the Harbor Justice Center in Newport Beach. The time and Department are to be determined.

Sometime after 5:00 p.m. on Jan. 30, 2011, Unholz is accused of arguing with his wife, Jane Doe, and committing domestic violence by pushing her to the floor and causing her to hit her head. The defendant’s two children were in the home at the time. Jane Doe called a friend, who reported the abuse to OCSD. OCSD investigated this case and deputies arrested the defendant that night. He was booked into the Orange County Jail.

On Jan. 31, 2011, Unholz is accused of posting $50,000 bail and was released from custody. A protective order was served on the defendant barring him from having any direct or indirect contact through a non-attorney third party with the victim. The order also barred the defendant from possessing or attempting to acquire any firearms.

On Feb. 2, 2011, Unholz is accused of contacting a friend, and requesting that his friend assist him in acquiring an automatic weapon and survival kit. He is also accused of violating the protective order by asking his friend to contact his wife. The friend reported the conversation to OCSD, who arrested Unholz that evening.

Deputy District Attorney Cyril Yu of the Family Protection Unit is prosecuting this case.

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