If you face assault allegations, charges, or an arrest in Allen, TX, your best resource is an Allen assault lawyer. An assault conviction can lead to time behind bars, significant fines, and disruptions in your daily life. You could lose your career, halt your education, and face other issues because of a conviction.
An Allen criminal defense lawyer from the Law Offices of Randall B. Isenberg can discuss your case and legal options with you today. We fight to help our clients get the best possible outcome based on the circumstances of their case. Our team represents those facing criminal accusations in Allen and throughout Collin County.
Our Lawyer Will Explain Allen Assault Charges to You
When the police accuse you of committing assault in Allen, Texas, this means they believe you violated some part of Texas Penal Code Chapter 22: Assaultive Offenses. This law has several parts, and the severity of the charges you could face varies widely.
Assault occurs when someone “intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly”:
- Causes another to suffer physical injuries
Or “intentionally or knowingly”:
- Threatens someone, causing them to fear imminent bodily injury
- Engages in physical contact likely to cause offensive or provocative feelings
As you can see, you cannot accidentally assault someone. An assault must occur as a result of reckless or purposeful actions. This, along with self-defense, is a common defense in these cases. We can also use many other defense strategies, depending on the circumstances.
How the Prosecution Builds Their Case
Our Allen assault lawyers know what it takes to get a conviction in these cases. Prosecutors must show that the assault occurred, that the accused party committed it, and that it was intentional or reckless.
We also know the evidence they commonly use in these cases. The evidence varies based on the circumstances, but it could include:
- Eyewitness testimony
- Video of the incident
- Testimony of the responding officers
- The incident report filed by the police
- Relevant medical records
Potential Consequences of an Allen Assault Conviction
Our clients are often concerned with the effect a conviction could have on their family, job, education, or other daily activities. This is a very real concern since assault convictions could include significant time behind bars. We ensure our clients understand the possible consequences of a conviction while we also fight to prevent the worst-case outcome.
The court will most likely use misdemeanor charges when an altercation involves only threats or offensive contact. A Class C misdemeanor, the most minor offense, could result in a $500 fine if convicted. As you can imagine, we often try to negotiate a plea deal that involves our client facing misdemeanor instead of felony charges.
Penalties If Convicted of a Misdemeanor
If convicted of a misdemeanor, you might face jail time. However, this is not certain. Many people never convicted of a misdemeanor assault charge do not spend significant time behind bars. The sentencing guidelines call for:
- A Class C misdemeanor, a $500 fine
- A Class B misdemeanor, up to 180 days in jail and/or a $2,000 fine
- A Class A misdemeanor, up to a year in jail and/or a $4,000 fine
Penalties If Convicted of a Felony
The courts usually charge more serious altercations that involve physical injuries or when the perpetrator has a history of other violent behaviors as felonies. A felony conviction generally involves some time behind bars and up to $10,000 in fines. The possible prison sentence varies from at least 180 days in state jail to 99 years in state prison. Sentencing guidelines show:
- State jail felony, 180 days to 2 years in jail
- Third-degree felony, 2 to 10 years in prison
- Second-degree felony, 2 to 20 years in prison
- First-degree felony, 5 to 99 years in prison
As you can imagine, a conviction for a felony assault could cost your family thousands and have you spend months or years behind bars. Our team wants to help you avoid this outcome and mitigate the effect a possible conviction has on your daily life. We develop strong, effective defense strategies to help our clients get a more favorable outcome in their cases.
Let an Allen Assault Lawyer Manage Your Criminal Defense Strategy
Attorney Randall B. Isenberg is not only a criminal defense lawyer, but he also knows the criminal justice system from the inside. He is a former Senior Chief Felony Prosecutor and State District Trial Judge, too. His experience helps our entire team understand what it takes to convict someone in these cases, and we use that to our client’s advantage. We work to prevent convictions or lessen the sentence when a conviction occurs.
At the Law Offices of Randall B. Isenberg, our attorneys look at each case on its own merits. We never employ a one-size-fits-all strategy. We assess the case, look at the evidence, conduct our own investigation, and develop a strategy to counter the prosecutor’s efforts to hold our client responsible. We may be able to:
- Stop prosecutors from pursuing the case
- Get the charges dropped
- Have the judge bar key evidence from court
- Negotiate a plea deal to have the charges lessened
- Present a compelling case for an acquittal
- Work out a sentencing deal to reduce the sentence
You can trust our team to utilize our knowledge, experience, and resources to build a solid defense and fight for your desired outcome. We cannot make any guarantees, but our case results show that we are often successful in helping our clients clear their names, reduce their time served, or get another favorable result for them.
Discuss Your Allen Assault Case With One of Our Criminal Defense Attorneys
At the Law Offices of Randall B. Isenberg, our criminal defense attorneys protect clients’ rights and fight for a positive outcome in their cases. What that might look like depends greatly on the circumstances. We know how to develop strong defense strategies for our clients.
Contact us now to learn how we can help with your case. We have team members available 24/7.
