WASHINGTON, D.C. (WUSA) - While a hidden camera famously captured Virginia Representative Jim Moran's son Patrick Moran's questionable judgment regarding voter fraud a little more than a month ago, his latest scandal may not be as clear-cut. 

On Wednesday, the younger Moran pleaded guilty  to beating his girlfriend on December 1st in front of a Columbia Heights bar, but there seem to be several sides to this story. 

First, Metropolitan Police's side: A report filed states that two Metropolitan Police officers witnessed Moran "grab (his girlfriend) by the head with his hand and slam her head into the metal trash can receptacle causing  severe injuries."

Second, Patrick Moran did not return our calls and emails but he did plead guilty to assault and was sentenced to one year probation. 

The third side is his 24-year-old girlfriend's. She issued a statement on Wednesday that read in part, "This was an accident that has been blown out of proportion. The statements in the police report are inaccurate.  Pat and I were arguing, one of my high heels gave out, and I fell into  the side of a trashcan. On impact, I fractured my nose. False conclusions were made as a result." 

This begs the questionL was it a case of domestic violence or a case of a high heel breaking? 

Karma Cottman runs the D.C. Coalition Against Domestic Violence. "We have to believe her,  we have to listen to her and take what she says for fact, but at the same time, we have to look at the evidence in the case and  help her develop a plan to keep herself safe," she said.

9News' Debra Alfarone asked Cottman if this was a case of domestic violence, is it possible is was a one-of event? She said it normally isn't. "Domestic violence is a cycle of abuse, it's a pattern of power and control  and so generally, they're not isolated incidences," said Cottman.

If you or someone you know may be a victim of domestic violence, the phone number for the National Domestic Violence Hotline is 1-800-799-SAFE.