Prince George’s County Assault Lawyer
If you have been charged with assault, you will need to hire a Prince George’s County assault lawyer to help you craft a strong legal defense.
The penalties a person receives for an assault charge will depend on the type of injuries their victim received, as well as the circumstances surrounding the alleged assault.
Assault is a serious charge, and it takes numerous forms. To learn more about the charges you face, contact a qualified criminal attorney.
What Constitutes Assault?
When a person threatens to harm another person in a convincing manner, they can be charged with assault. Assault charges are often issued alongside a charge of battery, which involves actually unlawfully making physical contact with another person.
To prove the defendant committed battery, the prosecutor will need to prove the defendant intended to harm or cause apprehension, and that the victim felt they would be harmed in some way.
When a person attempts to cause another person harm and succeeds in doing so, they can also be charged with assault. If an individual is charged with assault, they will need to consult a PG County assault lawyer if they want to defend their rights.
Felony Assault Charges
Basic assault charges (simple assault) can result in misdemeanor charges, but the following types of assault can result in felony charges:
- Assault with a deadly weapon
- Assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill
- Assault with a deadly weapon with intent to cause serious bodily harm
- Assault with a deadly weapon with intent to maim
- Domestic assault
If you have been charged with assault, keep reading to learn more about the various types of assault and how they are prosecuted.
Aggravated Assault
When a person uses a deadly weapon to commit assault, they can be charged with aggravated assault, which is often known as assault with a deadly weapon. To be charged with aggravated assault, defendants must actually harm their victims, but sometimes, if a defendant is believed to have caused a victim to fear for their life (without harming them), they can be charged with aggravated assault.
The definition of a deadly weapon is rather loose, but common items weapons such as guns, knives, and blunt objects are defined as deadly.
However, any item that can cause severe bodily harm or death can be considered deadly in the eyes of the law. Individuals charged with aggravated assault should contact a local assault lawyer as soon as they are able.
Other Types of Assault
Defendants who are believed to have committed assault against certain types of individuals will face harsher penalties than others.
Assaulting a law enforcement officer or any other first-responder can result in serious legal consequences, and even if a person commits a simple form of assault against a law enforcement official or first-responder, they will face charges of aggravated assault.
If a person attacks another individual based on their race, ethnic background, nationality, sexual orientation, religion, or disability, they can be charged with a hate crime. If a person is believed to have committed this type of assault, they will certainly need help from an assault defense attorney
Consult with a Prince George’s County Assault Attorney
If you have been charged with assault, you will need to hire an attorney who knows how to handle assault cases. If you do not hire a legal representative, you will have to defend yourself in court. This can be remarkably difficult, but with a lawyer, you can even the playing field. Discuss the details of your case with a Prince George’s County assault lawyer.