If you have been accused of or charged with assault or another related offense, you must take action to defend yourself.
The consequences of a guilty verdict could impact virtually every aspect of your life. Protect your rights and your future. Call the Law Offices of Michael A. Pignone in Prince William County to learn more about which defenses are viable options for your case.
A Prince William County assault lawyer at our firm is here to prepare a compelling defense so you can take back control of your life. Contact your legal counsel at our office for a confidential consultation today and learn more about which defenses are most likely to help you get your life back.
What Are Misdemeanor Assault Charges?
According to Virginia Code Section 18.2–57, assault is any offense that involves the threat of bodily harm. The alleged victim in your case must have a reasonable fear of injury due to your alleged actions or words.
Generally, this is considered a class one misdemeanor, punishable by up to $2,500 in fines and as much as 12 months in a Prince William County jail.
This means that the alleged victim does not necessarily need to have suffered a physical bodily injury for assault charges to apply.
If aggravating factors are present, such as the presence of a weapon or assault on a child, you could expect your charges to be increased, which means the penalties you will face will be considerably more severe.
Fortunately, your criminal defense lawyer will be ready to introduce mitigating factors and negotiate with the prosecuting attorney.
That way, your Prince William County assault lawyer can get higher-level assault charges reduced to a lesser offense or enter a pretrial diversion program or other plea agreement instead of jail time.
Different Types of Criminal Offenses and Assault Charges in Virginia
Assault charges can take multiple forms.
Your criminal defense attorney in Prince William County will need to carefully evaluate the specific details of your case to determine which defense strategy is most likely to help you get your life back on track.
Here are some of the most common types of assault and felony charges in VA:
- Aggravated malicious wounding under Virginia Code 18.2–5 1.2
- Aggravated assault
- Aggravated assault to a law enforcement officer
- Unlawful wounding under Virginia Code 18.2–51
- Burglary or robbery accompanied by an assault under Virginia Codes 18.2–91 and 18.2–58
- Assault with a significant injury under Virginia Code 18.2–10
- Assaulting an educator under Virginia Code 18.2–57(d)
- Malicious wounding
- Assault and battery of protected groups under Virginia Code 18.2–57(c)
- Domestic assault on a family member, also called domestic violence
- Reckless endangerment
- Hate crimes under Virginia Code 18.2–57(b)
Penalties for Prince William County Assault Convictions
The criminal charges and penalties you can expect if you are convicted of an assault charge can vary depending on the crime you have been charged with and whether anyone suffered severe bodily injury.
Misdemeanor Conviction and Bodily Injury Crimes Your Assault Lawyer Can Defend Against
Here are some of the top criminal charges and penalties your Prince William County assault lawyer can handle:
- If you are charged with aggravated malicious wounding, you will be prosecuted for a class 2 felony. This is punishable by up to 20 years in a Virginia state prison and fines as high as $100,000.
- If you are charged with unlawful wounding, you can be charged with a class 3 felony. This assault conviction is punishable by up to $100,000 in fines and as much as 20 years in prison. However, if you are charged with a class 6 felony, maximum prison terms may reach five years with fines as high as $2500.
- If you are charged with assault with a significant injury, this is a class two felony, punishable by as much as 20 years to life in a Virginia state prison and up to $100,000 in fines.
- If you are charged with robbery or burglary accompanied by an assault, this is generally considered a felony offense. The extent of your penalties will depend on the value of the items stolen, whether you have a criminal record, and whether sentencing enhancements apply.
- If you are charged with assault and battery of protected groups, this is generally charged as a class 6 felony. This assault conviction is punishable by up to 5 years in a Virginia state prison and a mandatory minimum six-month prison sentence.
- If you are charged with assault on an educator, this is generally considered a class one misdemeanor. If you face a misdemeanor conviction, you can spend up to $2,500 in fines, a mandatory minimum of 2 two days to as much as one year in a Prince William County Jail.
- If you are charged with a hate crime, you could be charged with a class 6 felony. You could spend up to five years in Virginia state prison, with a mandatory minimum of 30 days in a Prince William County jail. Consequences could increase if penalty enhancements apply.
- If you are charged with domestic assault, this is generally prosecuted as a class 1 misdemeanor. However, if you have three or more convictions on your record, you can expect to see this class 6 felony consequences, which include up to five years in a Virginia state prison and as much as $2,500 in fines.
Helping Clients in Prince William County, VA, and Surrounding Areas Facing Criminal Charges
When you are accused of committing assault or are facing any other type of misdemeanor or felony charges, you need aggressive legal counsel you can rely on to present a powerful defense or get you entered into a pretrial diversion program so you can avoid the harsh penalties of a conviction.
Reach out to an experienced Prince William County assault lawyer at the Law Offices of Michael A. Pignone for a confidential consultation today. You can reach us through our secured contact form or by phone to schedule your free case review as soon as today.