When you are accused or charged with aggravated assault, there is no time to waste to start constructing the most effective legal defense. While simple assault is an extremely serious charge to face, aggravated assault is an offense elevated above that level and carries even harsher legal penalties.
A Chesapeake aggravated assault lawyer could help you understand the details of your charge and the next steps for your case. From launching a strong defense to representing your interests in court, our assault attorneys can handle the legal process while working to secure your future rights and freedoms.
Elements of Aggravated Assault
The crime of assault typically refers to a situation where a person threatens to inflict harm or injury upon another person or places that individual in fear that they will suffer imminent harm. The accused does not have to actually touch the alleged victim, although more minor physical confrontations could lead to assault charges.
On the other hand, aggravated assault involves a range of factors that upgrade or worsen the charge from simple assault. For instance, when the assault was motivated by someone’s race, religion, or ethnicity, or the person assaulted was an officer of the law, the perpetrator could be charged with aggravated assault.
When a person engages in assault with the intent of inflicting serious bodily harm, inflicts a severe injury against someone, or uses a lethal weapon during the assault, an offense could be upgraded to aggravated assault. Aggravated assault can also refer to assault perpetrated with potentially lethal instruments such as explosives or other harmful materials like poison, knives, or razors.
An assault that results in broken bones or disfigurement would generally be an aggravated offense. Likewise, when someone engages in assault for the purpose of inflicting fatal harm, they could be charged with aggravated assault. A Chesapeake attorney could provide further insight about a particular aggravated assault charge and uncover any elements in the case that could mitigate the alleged offense.
Legal Consequences for Aggravated Assault
Simple assault is a misdemeanor. On the other hand, aggravated assault is charged as a felony. The severity of the charge will depend on numerous factors, including the presence of intent to cause serious harm, the degree of injury inflicted, and the use of any weapons or other means in carrying out the alleged aggravated assault.
Aggravated assault can be charged as a Class 6 felony, which carries a prison term ranging from 1 year to five years, along with financial penalties of up to $2,500. The potential period of incarceration could be much higher in some cases, depending on the facts and circumstances of the case.
A Chesapeake attorney understands just how much is at stake when you are facing an aggravated assault charge. Our legal team can prioritize your defense from day one of the case.
Contact a Chesapeake Aggravated Assault Attorney
The impact of a criminal record can stay with you even long after any sentence is served. From your ability to obtain certain types of work to your standing in your local community, your criminal case should receive unwavering, aggressive legal representation from a Chesapeake aggravated assault lawyer.
To find out what may be possible for your aggravated assault case, do not hesitate to contact our office today and schedule your legal consultation.
