Whether you are a resident of the town of Quantico or of the surrounding Marine Corps base, being charged with assault can have serious repercussions. It doesn’t matter if your goal is to preserve your clean record or to avoid the potentially devastating effects of a military court martial—your first call should be to an experienced Quantico criminal lawyer.
The experienced criminal defense practice group at our law firm have defended clients against many different types of assault charges, and we understand what it takes to handle these cases with discretion and tact. Contact our Prince William County law offices today if you’re interested in learning more about how we can work on your behalf.
Simple assault is a class 1 misdemeanor offense. Like all class 1 misdemeanors, it is punishable by up to 12 months in jail, up to a $2500 fine or a combination thereof. However, if the assault offense is more serious, you may be charged unlawful wounding, or even malicious wounding. This serious charge is a class 3 felony, and the elements are met when a person is maliciously shot, stabbed, cut or wounded and with the intent to kill, disable, sever, or maim. Consequences of this more serious charge include five to twenty years in prison.
There are a number of factors that can “aggravate” (or elevate) the charges you’re facing. For example, if you are accused of an assault that includes the use or brandishing of a dangerous weapon or firearm, you may face more severe penalties. The same goes for assault allegations that involve law enforcement officers, emergency personnel, teachers, and school administrators.
As you can tell, things can get complicated pretty fast, which is one of the reasons why it’s helpful to contact a Quantico assault attorney as soon as you receive your charges.
If you face assault charges (Virginia Code section 18.2-57), either misdemeanor or felony, a qualified attorney is extremely important. One of the things that distinguishes assault charges from other types of crimes is the fact that the often involve conflicting eyewitness testimony. As such, one of the first things a proactive assault lawyer will do is conduct an exhaustive independent investigation of the event, including taking down the defendant’s account of how the events transpired.
It’s possible that the events that led to your charges involved two or more individuals. In these cases, the police officers who responded to the scene probably asked who started the incident. However, conflicting reports can make it difficult to uncover the truth. Having a defense attorney who understands how to place the burden of proof on the prosecution is important in these cases, especially since it is human nature for judges and juries to jump to conclusions unless reasonable doubt is effectively established.
Considering the range of serious consequences that can potentially accompany assault allegations, working with a Quantico Assault lawyer quickly is a crucial first step in defending your rights. When you call our Prince William County defense team, we’ll conduct your free initial consultation free of charge and help you figure out what the next steps are in your case.
Northern Virginia Criminal Defense Group
