A San Antonio Assault Lawyer Building Your Strongest Defense

Helping you understand the nature of your offense and its potential penalties

Assault is defined as any act by one person that causes another person to fear immediate, personal violence. It does not require the assaulter to commit a violent act. That crime is known as battery. In most cases, assault and battery occur together, but the act of threatening another person is sufficient to bring an assault charge.

If you or someone you love faces an assault charge, you need an experienced assault attorney to represent your interests. In San Antonio, assault lawyer Joseph P. Appelt listens to your side of the story.

Types of assault

Assault comes in many forms. Some cases are prosecuted as felonies, while others are considered misdemeanors. The alleged victim, the nature of your threat, whether you were armed and other factors can all influence your charges, which may be classified as follows:

• Class A assault. If the allegations include that you intentionally, knowingly or recklessly caused pain to the accuser, the crime under deliberation is a Class A assault. Very little physical evidence is necessary to prove such a charge. The offense may seem small, but it can be prosecuted as a misdemeanor punishable by a year in prison and a considerable fine.
• Aggravated assault. A far more serious offense, aggravated assault and serious bodily injury is a second-degree felony that can lead to 20 years in prison plus a $10,000 fine. Charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon can lead to similar punishments. Under Texas law, a deadly weapon is anything that can be used for the purpose of inflicting injury or causing death.

Self-defense as an argument against assault charges

An experienced criminal defense lawyer knows there are several common defenses to assault charges in Texas. The most common one is self-defense.

Texas law gives citizens the right to defend themselves against unlawful force used by another person. However, the right to self-defense must be tempered by reason. That is, you may legally use only reasonable force to defend yourself from an attack. An experienced assault lawyer can examine the specific details of your case and determine whether self-defense is a potential argument that can be used on your behalf.

Talk to a San Antonio assault lawyer as soon as you suspect legal issues

For an experienced San Antonio assault attorney, call Joseph P. Appelt, P.C. We can answer any questions you might have about assault charges and your potential defenses against them. Contact us online or at [ln::phone]. We offer free consultations and easily accessible offices, and we accept all major credit cards. Se habla espanol.