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If you are charged with aggravated assault in Texas, then it falls under a felony offense. Not only would you have to pay large amounts in fines, but it is also enough to get you in prison. You will have a felony on your record for the rest of your life, which could make things very difficult for you in the future, be it finding a new job or for something as simple as looking for a loan. You need a Houston assault lawyer for your aggravated assault case to be fairly represented in the court of law, and you are not charged with baseless allegations.
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What Is Aggravated Assault Under Texas Law?
According to the Texas Penal Code Section 22, whenever a severe injury is caused to another person intentionally, it falls under an aggravated assault. If death occurs due to physical injury, or permanent disfigurement or amputation and immobility, you can be charged with a life sentence as well.
The punishment is severe if there was some weapon or firearm involved. A weapon does not always mean a knife or a gun. If you used a rock or a broken shard of glass to cause injury or even threaten an individual, then even those can be termed as deadly weapons. Especially violent crimes are on the rise in Houston since the start of the pandemic.
Why Do You Need a Houston Aggravated Assault Lawyer?
You will need an attorney for the following reasons.
To Understand the Charges Against You
Most of the time, a person might be arrested from the crime scene, and he or she might have no idea about the extent of the damage they have done. Everyone deserves a fair trial. You need a Houston assault lawyer to tell you about the harm you may or may not have done and its repercussions. The cops arresting you might not have got the full picture of what happened before they arrived at the scene. It would help if you had a chance to tell your side of the story as well, and a lawyer will help you do that.
Understanding the Penalties
An aggravated assault charge can be booked as a 2nd-degree felony in Houston. The punishment can range from 2 to 20 years of imprisonment. The fines can go as high as up to $10,000. On the other hand, assaults of unique nature can be categorized under 1st-degree felony.
It usually happens when the victim was in a domestic relationship with the assaulter; the alleged assaulter or the victim is a public servant and was on duty during the incident.
If the victim witnessed a crime previously committed by the defendant, was an informant, a security guard, or an emergency service worker. A 1st-degree felony penalty in Houston can be between 5 to 99 years of imprisonment and a fine of $10,000.
Helping You To Defend Yourself
You need a lawyer to help prove your innocence or to prove what happened before the incident that led to the assault. Court work can be emotionally taxing, and it can be financially draining as well. It would help if you had someone to guide you through the paperwork and navigate the legal processes.
The lawyer will look into other aspects of your life and ensure that there are the least problems in other areas of your life, like if you are engaged in a custody battle with your children or no false charges brought against you. The lawyer will also gather evidence that may prove you are innocent.
According to statistics, Assault charges are on the rise in Houston with 16.8% more cases registered in 2019.
With a Houston assault lawyer for an aggravated assault case by your side, you will have the best chance of defending your case and earn the least amount of punishment possible.
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