Cayce Assault Lawyer

An assault crime may carry serious penalties in Cayce, and anyone facing these allegations could need a vigorous defense from an experienced assault attorney. If you find yourself facing assault charges, no matter the circumstances that led to the alleged incident, it may be important you consult with a knowledgeable attorney immediately. Speak with a Cayce assault lawyer to learn more about what an experienced attorney can do for you.

Assault and Battery Laws in Cayce

One misconception about assault is that it requires someone to sustain a serious physical injury. In reality, a person may face assault charges even if no physical contact took place. Simply causing a person to fear for their life or fear imminent harm could be enough for an assault conviction.

Charges and Penalties

The severity of the potential penalties for an assault depends upon the seriousness of the circumstances surrounding the alleged assault. Assaults in which a person suffered substantial bodily injury or that involved a deadly weapon is the most serious and may trigger the harshest penalties.

In Cayce, the most serious assault charge is assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature, which may carry a penalty of up to 20 years in prison. For this assault charge, prosecutors must prove that an individual engaged in a physical contact that could likely have resulted in great bodily injury, such as permanent disfigurement. If you wish to learn more about the charges and penalties associated with assault, contact a Cayce assault lawyer.

Difference Between First, Second, and Third-Degree Assault

First-degree assault is the second most serious assault charge in Cayce and could carry a penalty of up to ten years in prison. A conviction for first-degree assault in Cayce requires that someone suffered an injury of any severity. Assaults that take place during the commission of a felony like kidnapping, robbery, burglary, or rape are usually also first-degree assaults. Any non-consensual touching of genitals may also typically be a first-degree assault.

Second-degree assault is a misdemeanor that may be punishable by up to three years in prison. This charge can include non-consensual touching of the genitals, where no injury occurred. It could also be a harmful contact that could have produced a serious bodily injury, even though it did not.

Third-degree assault, or simple assault, encompasses all other assaults that do not constitute the higher levels of the charge. A third-degree assault is also a misdemeanor that could be punishable by up to 30 days in jail. Simple assault can involve assaults in which no contact was actually made.

Individuals facing charges should contact a Cayce assault lawyer to learn more about the difference between first, second, and third-degree assaults.

Speak with a Cayce Assault Attorney Today

No matter the seriousness of the assault charges you are facing, an experienced Case assault attorney could seek to have the court reduce or dismiss the charges against you. A skilled assault attorney in Cayce may be able to ask prosecutors to make a plea for a misdemeanor simple assault charge, rather than a felony conviction. They could also investigate whether any defenses to the charges, such as self-defense, may apply. Call to see how a Cayce assault lawyer may be able to help.