Charles County Assault Lawyer
If you are currently facing assault charges, you must take action quickly. The penalties for assault are serious, and if you are convicted, you could lose your freedom, money, and standing in the community. You could also lose your job and your ability to find employment or housing due to your criminal record.
Contact a Charles County assault lawyer today for additional information. Legal representation could make the difference between a conviction and favorable courtroom outcome.
Second-Degree Assault
Second-degree assault is not punished as harshly as assault in the first degree. Assault in the second degree is typically punishable by a fine of up to $2,500 and a jail term of 10 years. If the victim is a probation officer, police officer, or parole officer, the crime is prosecuted as a felony, and the potential fine is increased to $5,000. The alleged offender could still be sentenced to 10 years in prison.
According to the law, assault requires intentional touching, so if a person begins to engage in an act they know would cause intentional injury to someone else, they could be charged with assault. Even if the person harmed was not the one intended.
First-Degree Assault
First-degree assault is defined as attempting to cause serious bodily harm to another person. Any assault committed with a firearm would automatically be considered first-degree assault, even if the person is not fatally harmed. Firearm refers to any shotgun, rifle, pistol, machine gun, or any other regulated firearm.
A person convicted of first-degree assault faces felony charges and a potential sentence of up to 25 years in jail. If a person attempts to assault another person but fails to, they could still be charged with first-degree assault. In short, whenever a person commits an assault with a potentially deadly weapon, such as a knife or baseball bat, they could be charged with first-degree assault.
Anyone charged with first-degree assault almost certainly needs the help of a Charles County assault lawyer.
Reckless Endangerment
A person could be charged with the crime of reckless endangerment if they:
- Recklessly engage in an action that poses a substantial risk of death or physical injury to another person
- Recklessly discharge a firearm from a motor vehicle in a manner that poses a substantial risk of death or physical injury to another person.
The penalty for reckless endangerment is outlined in Section 3-204(b) of the Maryland Code. Reckless endangerment is considered a misdemeanor, and if a person is convicted, they could face a jail sentence of up to five years and a fine of up to $5,000.
Talk to a Charles County Assault Lawyer
If you are facing assault charges, you may be confused and nervous. Such feelings are normal, but you must understand your legal options. With the help of an attorney, it may still be possible to get your charges reduced or completely dropped. You may be able to get your life back and avoid the lengthy penalties associated with assault.
Talk to a Charles County assault lawyer to see what could be done about your case today.