A few harsh words can lead to a misunderstanding, and an altercation can lead to assault charges. Whether the alleged crime occurred in the home, workplace, or in a bar, there are a lot of factors to consider when gathering evidence in an assault case. The Law Office of Shahin Zamir will take the time to conduct a thorough investigation of your case, talking to witnesses and collecting physical evidence in order to build the best possible defense.

There is a broad range of punishment for assaults, depending on the severity and manner of the assault:

If someone assaults another person by unwanted contact but there is no bodily injury to the alleged victim, the interaction results in Class C Assault charges which hold up to a $500 fine. 

A Class A assault occurs if the accused recklessly or intentionally causes bodily injury to the complainant. Bodily injury is often described as an act that causes pain. It is not necessary that there be physical evidence of an injury such as a bruise or broken lip; however, lack of a visible injury may make the case very defendable and ultimately result in a dismissal or an acquittal. The range of punishment for this type of assault is up to a year in jail and up to a $4,000 fine.

Assaults where the injuries sustained by the victim are serious or severe, or when a deadly weapon is involved, are considered Aggravated Assaults.  An Aggravate Assault is a Second Degree Felony.  The range of punishment for an Aggravated Assault is between 2 and 20 years in a State Penitentiary and a up to a $10,000 fine.  These charges should be taken very seriously as the consequences of being convicted can be life-changing.

There are many defenses that may be applicable in an assault case including self-defense or defense of a third party. All defensive issues need to be investigated by an experience criminal attorney to determine if they apply.  If you or a loved one have been charged with any sort of Assault, call the Law Office of Shahin Zamir immediately at (713) 223-8900.