Harris County Assault Lawyer

Harris County Assault Attorney

Assault charges in Harris County can’t be taken lightly. Assault is a severe offense in the county, with equally serious consequences, if you are convicted. Hiring a Harris County Assault Lawyer should be among the first and most important steps after an arrest for an assault.

When you are charged with a crime, you have the right to legal defense. You deserve legal defense that is effective and strategic and fights for your freedom and your rights. This affords you the greatest chance of avoiding the worst of your penalties and potentially helps you avoid conviction entirely.

Greco Neyland, PC: Your Assault Defense Attorneys in Harris County

At Greco Neyland, we recognize the crucial role a Harris County Assault Lawyer plays in your defense, and we provide a defense to assault charges that seek to protect your finances, freedom, and future. Facing a violent crime charge like assault is stressful. Whether the charge is the result of mutual violence, a misunderstanding, a false accusation, or another circumstance, you need to work with an attorney. Fight for your rights and work with a skilled attorney at Greco Neyland who will defend your interests.

What Is the Law on Assault in Harris County?

As in Houston and other cities in Texas, counties, like Harris County, are required to enforce the Texas state law on assault and other violent crimes. Under Texas’s criminal law, the Texas Penal Code, assault is a serious offense, and therefore it is a serious crime in Harris County.

Charged with assault in Harris County? Even if you are hiring a Harris County assault lawyer at Greco Neyland to handle your case, you need to understand what the Texas Penal Code says about assault crimes.

All charges for assault fall under a single statute in Texas – found at Section 22.01 of the Texas Penal Code. This specific law states that assault can be:

• Causing bodily injury to another person,
• Making threats of bodily injury or harm against another person; or
• Causing physical contact with another person that the defendant reasonably knows will be offensive or harmful to the victim.

It is important to know that not all instances of bodily harm, threats, and offensive physical contact rise to the level of assault in Texas. To commit assault in Harris County, you must have a specific mindset or intent when carrying out these actions.

How to Understand Intent in the Texas Assault Statutes?

The intent is a crucial aspect of any criminal charges in Harris County. Intent requirements in the Texas Penal Code mean a Harris County prosecutor must prove that a defendant acted with certain goals or purpose when acting. If there is evidence the defendant acted negligently, then the prosecutor cannot prove all necessary elements of assault and can’t get a conviction for burglary, theft, assault or most other crimes in Harris County.

• It is assault in Harris County if you intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly causing bodily harm.
• It is assault in Harris County if you intentionally or knowingly make threats of bodily injury or harm to a victim.
• It is assault in Harris County if you intentionally cause physical contact with a victim that you reasonably knew would be considered offensive or harmful.

An experienced Harris County assault lawyer at Greco Neyland can help you understand the intent, as applied to specific charges for assault.

What Are the Punishments for Assault Conviction in Harris County?

The Texas assault statute specifies that assault is a class A misdemeanor, except when there are aggravating circumstances that warrant more substantial charges. Any class A misdemeanor in Texas has a potential punishment of one year in jail and payment of a significant criminal fine.

Additionally, any criminal conviction has lasting repercussions for your personal and professional life, which may include loss of a professional license, administrative penalties, and payment of other fees.

The potential punishment is greater when assault charges include aggravating circumstances. In Texas, assault of a public servant, assault of a security officer, and assault during an emergency situation are all considered aggravating circumstances. The criminal charge for these assaults is a felony in the third degree. Felonies in the third degree can be punished by two to 10 years in prison.

Assaults can be charged as felonies in the second degree. These are the most serious assault charges and reserved for grave assaults by strangulation, assault of a family member, or assault committed by a prior offender. Felonies in the second degree can be punished by two to 20 years in prison.

FAQs

Q: What Is an Assault Charge in Houston?

A: An assault charge in Houston is the offense of either:

1. Purposefully or recklessly causing injury to another person
2. Purposefully threatening a person with imminent harm
3. Purposefully committing physical contact that the person knows or should reasonably know will provoke the other person

This is a Class A misdemeanor in most cases. It may be elevated to a third-degree felony if it is a crime of family violence, if it was an assault through strangulation, or if it was committed against a person in contract with the government while that person was engaging in their governmental duties.

Q: Can I Drop Assault Charges in Texas?

A: If you are the victim of an assault, you cannot drop assault charges once you have pressed them in Texas. Assault charges can only be dropped by the prosecution. There are certain cases where the prosecution may drop assault charges, including if the victim of the crime refuses to cooperate with the investigation or refuses to testify.

The prosecution may also drop assault charges if there is insufficient evidence to prove guilt or if the accused person negotiates a plea deal with the prosecution.

Q: How Long Is an Assault Charge in Texas?

A: An assault charge without aggravating factors is a Class A misdemeanor, which results in one or both of the following penalties:

• A fine of up to $4,000
• Imprisonment in jail for up to one year

There are also cases where an assault charge is a third-degree felony, which results in penalties including:

• Imprisonment for between two and ten years
• A fine of up to $10,000

Assault may also be a second-degree felony, resulting in:

• Imprisonment for between two and 20 years
• A fine of up to $10,000

Q: Can You Sue Someone for Assaulting You in Texas?

A: Yes, you can sue someone for assaulting you in Texas. If you are the victim of assault, you can press criminal charges and also file a civil claim. A criminal case can hold the offender responsible and may result in restitution for your injuries. A civil claim, if you can prove the individual caused your injuries, can recover your direct losses from bills and financial losses. If you are accused of assault, you could face both civil and criminal cases, both with serious potential consequences.

How to Hire a Harris County Assault Lawyer?

If you are facing assault charges, you need a skilled defense attorney. To ensure you have the best Harris County assault lawyer for your case, you need to know the lawyer taking your case. This isn’t always possible over emails or a brief phone conversation. At Greco Neyland, we provide a better option and it is free.

You can schedule a one-hour, initial consultation with a top assault lawyer in Harris County when you contact Greco Neyland now.