A person commits an offense of Assault if the person:
- intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly causes bodily injury to another, including the person’s spouse;
- intentionally or knowingly threatens another with imminent bodily injury, including the person’s spouse; or
- intentionally or knowingly causes physical contact with another when the person knows or should reasonably believe that the other will regard the contact as offensive or provocative.
An Assault offense is a Class A misdemeanor, and thus punishable by up to 1 year in prison if
- a person the actor knows is a public servant while the public servant is lawfully discharging an official duty, or in retaliation or on account of an exercise of official power or performance of an official duty as a public servant;
- a person whose relationship to or association with the defendant is described by certain sections of the Texas Family Code.
* In addition, there are several factors and circumstances which could cause this offense to be filed as an even higher charge, and thus presenting you with even greater consequences.
What Does This Mean
The details of an Assault charge are often complex and vary greatly depending upon who the police speak with. Often times a police report may be inaccurate because of the inherent nature of this charge. The police almost always arrive after an incident has occurred and are thus forced to write their report based upon facts given to them by different witnesses. Obviously, this can present a problem in the accuracy of the report detailing what actually occurred. Everyone’s story of what happened will almost always vary in some degree, and for this reason, it is important that you hire an attorney who is able to investigate your case, speak with witnesses, and do everything possible to provide you with the best defense.
Any charge of Assault is extremely serious. In order to protect your good name, keep your record clean, and be eligible to get into a good school or find a good job, it is imperative that you take these charges very seriously. A conviction for Assault can have an enormous impact on a person’s life, both personally and professionally.
Call us Today
If you are currently facing an Assault charge of any kind, it is important that you contact a qualified criminal defense attorney as soon as possible. At Ross Law Offices, we offer a free consultation to discuss your case and go over every option you may have. Don’t hesitate. Call us today.
