What is Assault?
Assault is a commonly misunderstood legal term. Not only does assault mean intentionally inflicting physical harm, but it is also legally defined as the infliction of fear of immediate bodily harm. Simply stated, you don’t have to touch a person to assault them. No physical harm means no physical evidence, which can make defending yourself against an assault charge (including domestic assault) terribly difficult.
The Impact of an Assault Conviction
Assault convictions, especially domestic assault convictions, can result in life-long punishments, including loss of your right to firearms and disqualification from many careers. Assault charges are also enhanceable offenses, meaning that multiple convictions, even if years apart and involving different people, can result in gross misdemeanor and felony charges. If you’re facing an assault charge you need to hire an aggressive criminal defense attorney to protect your rights, now and in the future.