If you are looking for an assault lawyer in Pearland that is experienced in successfully handling criminal defense cases, we can help you fight your criminal charge.

– Texas Assault Charges Explained
– Misdemeanor Assault vs. Felony Assault
– How to Beat Assault Charges in Texas

After being arrested and charged with assault, time will not be on your side. The prosecutor will have the government, the police, and many times the victim on their side. Timing is essential, and it is extremely important to hire an assault lawyer knows that knows how to beat assault charges against you or get you the best possible plea deal available.

Texas Assault Charges Explained

When someone is charged with criminal assault, it can be a life-changing event that is damaging in many ways. Even a misdemeanor assault conviction on your criminal record can affect your ability to get a job and affect other areas of your life significantly, potentially forever.

Texas Criminal Assault

The Texas Penal Code defines assault in Title 5, Chapter 22 as:

intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly causing bodily injury to another
intentionally or knowingly threatening another with imminent bodily injury, or
intentionally or knowingly causing physical contact with another when you know or should reasonably believe the other person will find the contact offensive or provocative

For assault charges to be brought in Texas, there must be bodily injury. Assault can be charged as a Class A, B, or C misdemeanor or it can be charged as a first, second, or third-degree felony.

Misdemeanor Assault Vs. Felony Assault

Texas Assault Penalties for Misdemeanors are the least serious assault charges, with Class A Misdemeanor charge being the most serious punishable by a potential fine of up to $4,000 and up to a year in jail. A Class B Misdemeanor charge can result in a fine of up to $2,000 and up to 180 days in jail. A Class C Misdemeanor charge is punishable by a fine of up to $500.

Misdemeanor Assault

Class A Misdemeanor Assault: Applies if one intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly causes bodily injury to another.
Class B Misdemeanor Assault: Applies if the assault occurs against a player during a sporting event
Class C Misdemeanor Assault: Applies to simple assault charges when a person intentionally or knowingly causes physical contact with another person when they should know the contact will be offensive or provocative – this is known as the offensive touching statute

Felony Assault

Is assault a felony? Yes, some assaults are charged as felonies and these are called aggravated assaults. Felony assault comes in three degrees of severity, like misdemeanors.

A misdemeanor assault becomes a third-degree felony assault when it is committed against a public servant while this person is performing their official duties, a family member, someone living in your household or someone you dating, a security officer performing their official duties, or any emergency services personnel performing their official duties. A third-degree felony penalty is up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.

A misdemeanor assault becomes a second-degree felony assault when committed against a family member, someone living in your household, or someone you are dating, and you have been convicted of a similar offense, or you intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly stop the breathing or blood circulation of someone else by choking or strangulation. A second-degree felony is punishable by two to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.

A misdemeanor assault becomes a first-degree felony assault if it is “aggravated” which means it causes serious bodily injury and/or involves the use of any weapon and is committed against a public official, police officer, emergency worker, security guard, witness, or informant, or someone with whom you are in a dating relationship. A first-degree felony punishment is five years to life in prison, including a fine.

Beating Assault Charges in Texas

Assault charges in Texas can mean a variety of different things in court, ranging from a credible threat of committing violence to another individual to actually physically inflicting serious bodily harm. When facing criminal assault charges, one of the first things you will ask yourself is “how do I beat assault charges?” Successfully handling the complexities of an assault case typically requires the knowledge and experience of a proven assault attorney.

The assault charges lawyers at J.D. Silva have experience making a variety of arguments to defend against assault accusations. As your assault lawyer, we will:

dispute the evidence presented by the prosecution or;
rely on an affirmative defense, which means you admit to the crime but you have evidence of legal justification.

Dispute the Evidence

This includes alleging there is insufficient evidence to show an assault occurred. According to Tex. Penal Code Title 2, Chapter 8, General Defenses include:

False allegations
Insufficient evidence to support the charge or charges against you
Mistake of fact

Police officers often make serious mistakes or go beyond legal boundaries when making an arrest. As your attorneys we will look for evidence that can be deemed inadmissible in court based on it being obtained in violation of your legal rights.

However, if the state can prove an assault occurred, the next line of defense is justification.

Affirmative Defense

It is possible to have been justified in using force or causing injury to another person. It’s often a defense to many violent crimes if you were acting in self-defense or defense of another. No matter how violent or severe the assault, your actions can be justified by being reasonable under certain circumstances if the assault was in response to an immediate threat. Again, Tex. Penal Code Title 2, Chapter 8, General Defenses include:

Self defense where you are defending yourself or another individual
Defense of your property
Insanity
Mistake of law
Duress
Entrapment
Justification
Age affecting responsibility
Lack of capacity
Necessity

Plea Bargain Assault Charge

Many cases are resolved before even going to trial through the negotiation of a plea bargain. An experienced criminal assault lawyer will do everything they can to keep you out of court and out of jail. By agreeing to a plea deal, you will be agreeing to plead guilty to the crime but will receive a lesser charge or reduced sentence. This can help avoid the time, stress, and expense of a long trial. If a plea bargain is offered by prosecutors, your criminal assault attorneys can negotiate with the prosecution to ensure the offer is fair and beneficial to you.

Contact J.D. Silva & Associates

On top of facing possible jail time for an assault, those who are convicted of assault in Texas also face expensive fines. You can face penalties of up to thousands of dollars as well as the expenses of court costs, bail costs, and other legal fees. You can easily lose your job, professional license, and future earning potential with a negative result.

The stress and anxiety you may feel after being charged with assault can make you feel alone and scared. When you hire a J.D. Silva criminal assault lawyer, you can be assured that someone skilled is there to support you through your entire case. Our experienced assault lawyers can ensure your rights are protected and may even be able to get your case dismissed or the charges otherwise reduced and removed from your record entirely.

We understand how stressful, frustrating, and upsetting this process can be, and how easy it is to feel overwhelmed. In the time immediately following an arrest for assault, you may have a lot of questions, concerns, and fears. The experienced team at J.D. Silva & Associates is here to answer them. Contact us today to discuss your legal options.

Pearland Assault Attorney

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