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Frederick Assault Attorney
With Law Offices in Bowie, Waldorf, Frederick, Lexington Park, and Rockville
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Frederick Assault Attorney
If You Face Assault Charges in Frederick, Our Criminal Defense Firm Can Help
Facing charges for assault in Maryland can be stressful and intimidating. However, know that you do not have to do it alone, as the Frederick assault lawyers at Alpert Schreyer, LLC, are ready to help. We thoroughly understand assault laws and defenses and will work for the best possible outcome in every case. Do not accept unnecessary consequences in your assault case – call our office today to learn more about our services.
If a disagreement at a bar escalates into a shoving match, it may not seem like a big deal – that is, until police arrest you and prosecutors charge you with assault. In fact, the situation does not have to escalate to physical contact, as you can face assault allegations for simply making threats of violence or injury. Assault laws and the criminal process in Maryland can be confusing, and many people do not know how to proceed to best protect their rights.
WHAT CONSTITUTES ASSAULT?
While “assault” can be a cause of action in a civil personal injury case, it is also a criminal offense under Maryland law. Assault can refer to any of the following:
- Threatening offensive physical contact with another person
- Actually engaging in offensive physical contact with another person
- Threatening to cause serious physical injury to another person
- Actually causing serious physical injury to another person
“Serious physical injury” refers to an injury that results in lasting or permanent impairments, disfigurement, or the loss of a body part, or in a significant risk of death. Depending on the circumstances of an alleged assault, you could face charges of one or more of the following offenses:
- First-degree assault – This charge applies if a prosecutor alleges you intentionally caused or attempted to cause serious physical injury to another person. Prosecutors can also issue this charge for assaults that involved a firearm. This is a serious felony offense with a potential sentence of up to 25 years in state prison.
- Second-degree assault – This charge generally applies to assault cases that do not involve serious bodily injury. You can face second-degree assault charges for offensively touching or pushing someone, or even for threatening to do so. No injuries have to result for you to face criminal assault charges. In most cases, second-degree assault is a misdemeanor charge, and a conviction could mean up to ten years in prison and a $2,500 fine.
Assault cases can get more serious if authorities allege you committed an assault against someone you knew was a police officer, first responder, or probation or parole officer who was on the job. In these cases, you will likely face felony charges with potential penalties including up to ten years in prison and a $5,000 fine.
The sentence for a particular conviction will often depend on the alleged circumstances of the assault and the identity of the victim. The right defense attorney can present mitigating factors to try to reduce a sentence, as well as challenge any aggravating factors presenting by the prosecutor. Assault convictions may also have long-term consequences in addition to any fines or jail time. Having a serious conviction on your criminal record can affect the following and more:
- Professional licenses
- Housing rentals
- Owning firearms
- College acceptance and scholarships
- Eligibility for jobs
- Security clearances
While assault convictions can mean serious and lasting penalties, there are fortunately many ways that our attorneys can defend against these charges.
Client Testimonials
The Opinions that Matter Most“If you’re facing this charge and not sure where to turn, reach out to the experts at Alpert Schreyer.”
- Anonymous
“Mr. Chris Hartman represented me greatly on my DUI case and it was all dropped and rendered to negligent driving. We went into details about the case and was made to understand how the case could sway but he mesmerized me with a deal that took all that ””
- Anonymous
“The firm developed a program and mitigation strategies to help provide the best possible outcome of the case.”
- Anonymous
DEFENDING AGAINST ASSAULT CHARGES
There are many legal defenses to assault charges. Our Frederick criminal defense lawyers will carefully evaluate what happened in your situation and determine which defenses may apply.
The following are some of the more common defense claims in assault cases:
- Self-defense – With this defense, you admit that you committed the assault, but also claim that you had legal justification to do so. If you reasonably believe that another person is going to imminently hurt you, you have the right to defend yourself by using a reasonable amount of force. You cannot use more force than necessary to protect yourself, however, and you cannot use deadly force without the threat of serious bodily injury. In most case, you also cannot claim self-defense if you started the altercation. Successfully claiming self-defense is more difficult than most defendants imagine, and you should have a skilled defense lawyer making this argument for you.
- Defense of others – Similar to self-defense, you have the right to use reasonable force to protect others from harm. Also similar to self-defense, this is often a difficult defense to prove.
- Lack of intent – In order for a prosecutor to convict you of assault, they must prove that your conduct was intentional. If you tripped over something and fell into another person, knocking them down, you should not face assault charges since it was an accident and you never meant to come into contact with the victim. We know how to demonstrate when certain conduct was not intentional.
- Mistaken identity – In some cases, a person may accuse you of assault when someone else committed the offense. This is common after a bar brawl or another altercation in which many people may be in the vicinity or involved in the fight.
- Coercion – If someone else coerced you into committing an assault, it means you did not act willfully and, therefore, a prosecutor should not convict you of assault.
These are only some of many possible defense strategies in Maryland assault cases. To learn more about your options, discuss your specific situation with a member of our experienced legal team as soon as you can.
CONSULT OUR FREDERICK ASSAULT DEFENSE LAWYERS TODAY
The Frederick criminal defense attorneys at Alpert Schreyer, LLC handle many types of cases in Maryland criminal court. We understand how the process works and how to best protect the rights of our clients. We believe that no one should face wrongful or unnecessarily harsh convictions or penalties, and we aggressively defend against criminal charges.
Please call (301) 321-7277 or contact us online to discuss your case today.
Client Reviews
The attorney’s and paralegals are incredible. They are truly committed to understanding your case and serving you. However, I’ve personally worked with Mr. Berman and Mrs. Bowman through my entire process! I am so grateful for their passion, dedication, and professionalism. I haven’t worked with many attorney’s in the past, but I’m glad you all were recommended to me. You all are truly the best. Thank you so much!
Viair Myles
Client Testimonials
The Opinions that Matter Most“If you’re facing this charge and not sure where to turn, reach out to the experts at Alpert Schreyer.”
- Anonymous
“Mr. Chris Hartman represented me greatly on my DUI case and it was all dropped and rendered to negligent driving. We went into details about the case and was made to understand how the case could sway but he mesmerized me with a deal that took all that ””
- Anonymous
“The firm developed a program and mitigation strategies to help provide the best possible outcome of the case.”
- Anonymous
Why Hire Our Firm?
The Alpert Schreyer Advantage
Our legal team boasts over 70 years of combined experience defending the rights of the accused.
Our attorneys are committed to taking the time to clearly communicate & understand your case.
Our attorneys are former prosecutors who know how to recognize mistakes made by law enforcement.
We have the resources to investigate cases, provide expert witnesses in court & advocate for you.
We have an established reputations as one of Maryland's top-rated DUI defense firms.
We promise to fight for you with the intensity, drive & skill necessary to produce results.
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