assault in arizona - person punched in the face

20 Jun I’ve been Charged with Assault in Arizona: What to Expect | Part I

Posted at 18:22h in Aggravated Assault, Assault, Felonies, misdemeanor by

The severity of the assault charge itself can vary as widely as the penalties of a conviction. Being charged with assault in Arizona, or even merely investigated, can be a very difficult and scary time. Assault is one of the more serious crimes in the state of Arizona and facing it alone is unwise. If you are wondering what exactly qualifies as assault, and what you can expect during your case, read on below.

The spectrum of assault charges can range from the mere threat of violence to physically inflicting bodily harm to another. As such, the penalties can be as wide ranging–from fines to serious prison time. To understand your situation, it is vital to understand the charges you are facing.

Misdemeanor Assault

Simple assault charges in Arizona are defined as touching another with the intent to physically injure them, causing someone to fear bodily harm, or any physical injury to another. You can face up to a year in prison and fines as high as $2,500 if convicted of misdemeanor assault in Arizona.

Aggravated Assault

A step beyond simple assault, aggravated assault can be defined by a number of circumstances including:

  • causes temporary but substantial disfigurement or fracture
  • is committed with a deadly weapon
  • if the victim is restrained
  • if the victim is an officer of the law, firefighter, prison guard, teacher, prosecutor or medical professional.
  • is committed after entering the private home of someone

Aggravated assault is most often considered a Class 3 Felony, which can come with 5-15 years in prison, or even longer for second or third repeat convictions.

Regardless of the severity of the assault charges you are facing, it is important to have a certified criminal law specialist like Todd Coolidge handling your case. Many times assault charges are filed against innocent people who were simply defending themselves. Don’t let that be you! Contact Coolidge Law Firm today 480-264-5111

*The information in this blog is for general information purposes only. This blog post should not be taken to constitute a formal recommendation or professional advice. We exclude all representations, warranties, legal liability or responsibility relating to its content.

Images used under creative commons license – commercial use (6/16/2016) Nic Redhead (Flickr)

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