In Texas, a conviction for murder, assault, or another violent crime can put you in prison for decades, potentially for life. You may even face the death penalty.
A murder and assault lawyer in Denton can help you fight these serious allegations. Call us as soon as possible, even if the state has not yet filed charges as getting us involved earlier may be beneficial to your case.
Attorney Randall Isenberg has more than 30 years of experience as a criminal defense lawyer, chief felony prosecutor, and state judge. Put this extensive knowledge and experience to work for you today by calling 214-696-9253.
What Is Assault in Texas? Will I Go to Jail?
Title 5, Chapter 22 of the Texas Penal Code (TPC) sets forth the definition of several Assaultive Offenses.
The statute defines simple assault, typically eligible for a class A misdemeanor charge, as causing physical harm to someone, threatening someone with physical harm, or engaging in physical contact with someone for the purpose of provoking that person.
The TPC also lists a number of other crimes as assaultive offenses. These include aggravated assault, injuring an elderly person, disabled person, or child, abandoning or endangering a child, sexual assault, and aggravated sexual assault.
In the Punishments section of the TPC, class A misdemeanor assault carries the potential for a $4,000 fine and one year in jail.
However, you may face third-degree felony charges if the victim of the alleged assault was a police officer, security guard, public employee, or a guardian of the family court. You will also face enhanced charges if the victim was your current or former spouse, domestic partner or boyfriend/girlfriend, your roommate, or another member of your family.
If your alleged offense involved any aggravating circumstances, such as possessing a weapon at the time of the assault, you could face a second-degree felony charge.
Upon conviction for a third-degree felony, you will face a $10,000 fine and between two and 10 years in prison. For a second-degree felony, you face a $10,000 fine and between two and 20 years in prison.
What Constitutes Murder in Denton? What Penalties Will I Face?
In Title 5, Chapter 19 of the TPC, you will find the definition and punishment for a murder charge under the category of Criminal Homicide. Criminal homicide also includes the offenses of manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide, and capital murder.
The statutes define murder as causing someone’s death, knowingly or intentionally. You also commit murder if someone dies due to a physical attack or assault you committed or if someone dies while you were committing a felony, or fleeing from the commission of a felony.
Murder charges, absent any special circumstances, qualify as a first-degree felony. First-degree felony charges carry a fine of $10,000 and between five and 99 years (or life) in prison.
Capital murder charges apply in the case of murder-for-hire, multiple victims, or for killing a member of the law enforcement community. Upon conviction for capital murder, you will face a mandatory life sentence without parole. Or, if the prosecutor chooses, the state can pursue the death sentence.
How Can a Murder and Assault Lawyer Fight These Charges?
A murder and assault lawyer in Denton at the Law Offices of Randall B. Isenberg will evaluate the specific details of your case to determine the best course of action for your defense.
The good news is that, for charges of this serious nature, the prosecutor must meet a very high burden of proof to obtain a conviction. This gives us many options for building your case.
We will begin by conducting a thorough examination of the facts and evidence of your case, looking for potential violations of your legal rights or other mistakes made by the police. Our team may conduct our own investigation, including interviewing witnesses or reconstructing the crime scene.
If the police conducted an illegal search and seizure, for example, or if the police failed to properly process or retain key evidence, we may possibly use this information to negotiate with the prosecutor for a lesser charge or a dismissal of your case.
We can call on our extensive network of resources, including subject matter experts and investigators, to uncover the truth, ideally convincing the prosecution that it cannot prevail at trial.
If the prosecutor does not agree to negotiate, we can build the strongest possible criminal defense case, to represent you in court.
In court, we may pursue an argument of self-defense, the defense of others, or the defense of your property, if it appears that you had reason to believe you were in danger or that using force was necessary at the time.
Our team may use other arguments in your defense, depending on the nature of the charges and the circumstances of the case, to establish reasonable doubt in the minds of the jury.
When Should You Hire a Murder and Assault Lawyer?
You should speak to a lawyer as soon as you believe you are under investigation or suspicion, even if the state has not yet filed charges in your case.
Often, a murder and assault lawyer can intervene before the prosecutor files charges, convincing them to file lesser charges or, ideally, not to file charges at all.
To ensure the protection of your legal rights, look for a knowledgeable criminal defense attorney. Attorney Randall Isenberg has provided criminal defense representation as well as working as both a felony prosecutor and state court judge during his more than 30 years in the justice system. He understands the inner workings of the criminal justice system, and he will put that knowledge to work for you.
The Law Offices of Randall B. Isenberg provides a free consultation and case review for clients under investigation for or charged with murder, assault, or another violent crime in Denton. We will also come to you if you are currently in police custody.
Do not attempt to face this serious situation on your own. Contact us today at 214-696-9253 to talk to a Denton murder and assault lawyer.
