Weatherford Assault Criminal Defense Lawyer

Attorney for Assault and Aggravated Assault Charges Serving Parker County

Assault and aggravated assault, while closely related, are two quite different offenses in Texas. Simple assault is generally charged as a misdemeanor, while aggravated assault can be a felony offense. There is sometimes a fine line between assault and aggravated assault. If you have been charged with either of these offenses, you are in a serious situation. Even a simple assault conviction can close doors in your future.

Soraya Joslin, P.C. is experienced in defending those charged with assault or aggravated assault. Our attorneys understand that these are rarely cut-and-dry cases with one clear victim and one clear offender. In many cases, assault charges arise out of a mutual dispute that escalates. You may have faced strong provocation, or you may even have been falsely identified as the aggressor. We will carefully evaluate your case to determine what type of defense would likely be best for you.

Parker County Lawyer for Simple Assault

It is easier than you might have realized to find yourself in a position where you may face assault charges. A simple argument at a bar or dispute with an obnoxious neighbor can turn physical at a moment's notice, and it is not always easy for police arriving to discern what happened.

The definition of an assault in Texas is broad. It includes not only violent attacks, but also merely making physical contact with another person in a way that is provocative or offensive. Merely jabbing someone in the chest with a finger could be classified as assault. Even the threat of physical violence may be enough to support an assault conviction.

Our skilled attorneys have handled many of these cases. We are skilled in helping those charged with simple assault minimize the impact of these charges.

Aggravated Assault Attorney in the Weatherford Area

If you are facing felony charges for aggravated assault, your situation is very serious. Violent crimes are often treated very harshly. Depending on the type and severity of assault, you could be facing a first-degree felony carrying decades behind bars or a lower-level felony that still carries upwards of a year in prison.

In Texas, an assault may be charged as aggravated assault for one of several reasons. One reason is if the assault was very harmful to the victim, causing serious bodily injury. In the most serious cases, this crime is one step short of homicide. This offense may be charged in domestic violence cases as well.

Another reason your assault charge may be considered aggravated is if you brandished or used a deadly weapon. This could include circumstances like waving a knife at someone or pulling out a gun, even if the weapon was never used on the victim.

Finally, an aggravated assault charge may be victim-based. For example, if the victim was a public servant carrying out their job duties, even a very minor assault could be charged as aggravated assault.

Defenses We May Use for Assault Cases in Texas

There are a number of possible defenses in assault cases. These may include:

• Self-defense - The alleged victim was actually the aggressor, and you were only protecting yourself or another person.
• Protecting property - Aggravated assault cases involving brandishing or using a firearm are often defeated by arguing that the alleged "victim" had illegally entered the defendant's property.
• Consent - The victim in some way expressed consent to possible physical contact. For example, if you and the alleged victim mutually agreed to a wrestling match, assault charges for either would not be appropriate. Consent is often a significant issue in sexual crime cases.

Our attorneys will carefully review and investigate the circumstances of your case so that we can design the strongest possible defense.

Contact a Parker County Assault Defense Lawyer

Soraya Joslin, P.C. is committed to guarding the rights and freedoms of our clients, regardless of the offense they are charged with. Our Wise County criminal defense lawyers are experienced in dealing with both assault and aggravated assault cases, with excellent records of success. Contact us at 817-599-7005 for a free consultation.