Kent Assault Defense Lawyer

You face an assault charge and have no idea about how to deal with it. If you choose not to contest the charge, you could be convicted, which can affect you long into the future. Alternatively, you can partner with a Kent assault defense lawyer who can help you dispute your charge and avoid serious penalties. 

Puget Law Group has earned an average of 4.9 stars across more than 350 Google Reviews. Let a Kent criminal defense lawyer from our legal team review your assault case and discuss your legal options with you. Contact us to get started. 

Definition of Assault

Per Revised Code of Washington (RCW) Chapter 9A.36, assault refers to unwanted physical harm. An individual can be charged with assault if the harm they inflicts on someone else would be considered offensive to a “reasonable” person. There are four degrees of assault:

• First Degree: A person uses a firearm, deadly weapon, or other methods to harm someone, hurts someone using poison or other dangerous substances, or purposely transmits HIV to someone.
• Second Degree: Classified as a felony, second-degree assault involves intentionally physically harming someone or making someone fear that they will get hurt. Examples include strangulation or torture. 
• Third Degree: Third-degree assault is often charged as a misdemeanor. A person can receive a third-degree assault charge for intentionally attacking someone or harming a bus driver or transit operator while they are working. 
• Fourth Degree: If someone makes offensive contact with another person or causes harm that does not meet the standards of first-, second-, or third-degree assault, they can be charged with fourth-degree assault. 

You do not have to face an assault charge by yourself. At Puget Law Group, we can examine your charge in detail and work with you to achieve your desired case results. Request a free case consultation with a Kent assault defense attorney from our team. 

Assault vs. Aggravated Assault

Simple assault involves an attempt or threat to injure someone else. You can be charged with assault even if you do not touch or strike another person. In this scenario, it may be best to partner with an assault defense attorney in Kent, WA. 

If a deadly weapon is used to attack someone, an individual can be charged with aggravated assault. For example, if a person uses a knife to injure another party, they may receive an aggravated assault charge. An individual can also get charged with aggravated assault if an attack occurs in conjunction with a robbery, rape, or other crimes.  

With an assault or aggravated assault charge, legal help is available. A lawyer offers legal services and support. They may help you get a second-degree assault with firearm enhancement dismissed or show the court that you should not be punished to the fullest extent of the law. 

Assault Penalties 

An assault defense lawyer in Kent, WA can explain the penalties associated with your charge. The penalties for assault vary based on the degree of your crime. Here are some of the consequences that you could face if you are convicted of assault:

• Up to a lifetime prison sentence
• Fine of up to $20,000
• Criminal record that can impact your ability to buy a house or land a job
• Loss of custody rights if you share custody of a child

In Washington State, plea bargaining is an option in assault cases. Your lawyer may come to terms on a plea deal with a prosecutor. If you accept the terms of this agreement, you may approve a lesser punishment than the one the prosecution initially sought. 

How to Defend Against an Assault Charge

For help with defending against an assault charge, choose a lawyer who has a wealth of relevant case experience. Ideally, you can hire an assault defense attorney in Kent who has received dozens of positive client testimonials. This attorney may consider many legal defenses for your case, including:

Self-Defense

Someone attacks you, and you use reasonable force to defend yourself. An assault defense lawyer in Kent may use surveillance footage or other evidence that shows you were defending yourself. Your body of proof may compel the court to provide you with a favorable ruling. 

Consent

You may be charged with sexual assault but had the other party’s consent. Or, you get charged with assault due to physical harm that someone suffered while you were engaged in a contact sport with them. In these scenarios and others, your attorney may prove that the defendant gave their consent to engage in certain activities, which may help you in your case against them. 

No Intent

You commit a crime without realizing that you are actually doing so or with no intent to act recklessly or carelessly toward others. With help from your lawyer, you can share medical records and other documents that highlight your mental state at the time of the incident. These documents may prove you did not intend to engage in criminal activity in the first place. 

Duress

There can be times when someone is threatened if they do not harm someone else. At these times, an individual may commit a crime under duress. Your lawyer could prove you faced an immediate threat, which prompted you to act the way you did. 

Necessity

You may have committed a crime to avoid injuries or other harm. This means the act may have been one of necessity. Your attorney may show you had no other option than to engage in this activity.

Take legal action now — if you try to ignore your assault charge, it will not disappear on its own. With a lawyer at your side, you can start preparing a legal defense that will resonate with the court and search for ways to argue against the prosecution. If your case is successful, you could have the charge against you reduced or eliminated. 

Ask for Help from an Assault Defense Lawyer Who Fights for Justice on Your Behalf

The criminal defense system is complicated, and a single mistake can lead to a conviction in your assault case. At Puget Law Group, we understand this system, and we can help you craft a legal strategy that allows you to dispute the charge against you to the fullest extent.

Schedule a free case consultation with our team.