Washington, D.C. Assault Lawyer
Accused of Assault? Call (202) 759-7929
Assault occurs when a person unlawfully uses force or threatens another
person in a menacing manner, causing that individual to fear imminent
harm. In assault cases, there does not need to be injuries or physical
contact. If you have been charged with assault, talk to a Washington,
D.C. assault attorney at Hunter & Johnson, PLLC. We can listen to
your case and get to work immediately to help you build a strong defense.
Whether you are facing
misdemeanor or
felony assault charges involving accusations of causing serious injuries, stalking,
threats or dangerous weapons, you need to start building your defense
as soon as possible. Start by talking to an assault lawyer about your
situation. The sooner you work with an experienced attorney, the better
your chances of successfully fighting these charges.
If you are facing charges for assault, start by
requesting a case consult
to discuss your case.
What Are the Penalties for Assault?
Criminal penalties for assault can include prison incarceration and fines.
Depending on the circumstances, such as serious injuries or a victim who
was a law enforcement officer, you may be looking at even stricter penalties.
In cases involving
aggravated assault or
assault with a deadly weapon, charges are elevated to felonies, with the risk of additional fines,
prison time, and other penalties.
Even cases of
simple assault and
domestic violence are seen as a violent offenses, and can haunt you for the rest of your
life. Whether you are applying for jobs or looking for housing, when an
employer or landlord sees that you have an assault conviction, he or she
may be inclined to deny your application. Don't let this charge ruin
your life.
The Differences Between Assault and Battery
Usually when someone is arrested after getting into some form of physical
altercation, they will be charged with assault and battery. In the world
of criminal violations, assault and battery seem to be as inseparable
as salt and pepper, peanut butter and jelly, or macaroni and cheese. They
are so commonly paired up, it begs the question: are they even separate crimes?
In actuality,
assault
is a separate crime from battery, no matter how often the two come together.
So why are the two of them so frequently packaged with one another on
charge sheets? It has to do with how they are defined.
-
Assault: Using language, vocally or bodily, to intimidate, threaten, frighten, coerce,
or otherwise display the intent to harm another person. For example, if
you looked at someone, raised your fist, and angrily declared that you
wanted to punch them, you could be charged with assault.
-
Battery: The actual act of physically striking someone with the intent to cause
pain, harm, or offense. For example, groping someone who does not consent
to the physical contact could be regarded as battery, in this case, sexual battery.
Think about most altercations that lead to an arrest. It is extremely unlikely
that someone would just run up and kick or punch someone without warning
or provocation. Instead, fights tend to start with heated arguments and
verbal boasting. The sequence of events, when broken down, is actually
assault that leads to battery. If you wanted to be technical about the
charges, it should be called “assault
then battery.” Thus, assault actually does occur often without battery,
but battery very rarely occurs without assault.
Cutting-Edge Defenses to Assault Charges
Creating a strong defense for assault accusations starts with thorough
investigations. Our Washington D.C. assault lawyers meticulously analyze
police reports and scrutinize witness statements to find weaknesses in
the prosecutor's case. Depending on the unique circumstances of your
case, we may be able to look into possible defenses such as self-defense,
lack of intent, mistaken identity, lack of evidence, and more.
Turn to Our Washington, D.C. Assault Attorneys for Help
Assault cases are rarely cut and dry. Arrests can be made with law enforcement
officials failing to understand both sides of the story. We have seen
many instances where clients have been arrested based on false accusations
or exaggerated stories. We know the stress of being accused of a crime
and we can guide you through the whole process - the courts, dealing with
prosecutors, and fighting to protect your future.
Our team at Hunter & Johnson, PLLC is in it to win it. We approach
each case with this
winning attitude
and our aggressive case preparations because we know how much your future
depends on it. From fiercely negotiating for the best possible plea deal
to taking your case all the way to a jury, we are prepared to exhaust
all of our options in order to deliver the result you need.
Facing charges for assault?
Call us at (202) 759-7929
for defense today.