Assault Defense

There Are Usually Two Sides

An assault charge can follow a single tense moment: an argument that turned physical, a confrontation outside a bar, a misunderstanding that the other person reported first. The charge ranges from a misdemeanor to a serious felony depending on the alleged harm and the circumstances. What it almost always has in common is that there is more to the story than the report shows.

A defense starts by reconstructing what actually happened. Who started it, what was said, who else saw it, and whether the response was reasonable under the circumstances. Often the account the police wrote down came from one side, and the full picture changes the charge.

What We Look At

• Whether self-defense or defense of another applies.
• Who the aggressor actually was.
• Whether witnesses support the charge or undercut it.
• Whether any injury matches the account given.
• Whether the charge level fits the facts.

If You Have Been Charged

Do not contact the other person, and do not post about the incident anywhere. Write down what happened, including who else was present, while it is fresh. Then call. The sooner we can speak with witnesses and review the account, the stronger the picture we can build.

A Charge Is Not a Conviction

People often assume that being charged means the outcome is decided. It is not. Many assault cases involve a disputed account, a reasonable response, or a charge that does not match what occurred. Those are exactly the questions a defense exists to press.