Assault

Assault is a crime that can be classified as either a misdemeanor or a felony. A felony is more serious, with severe penalties. A misdemeanor is generally less serious, with less severe (but still burdensome) penalties. Both misdemeanor and felony convictions become part of your permanent record.

If you are facing an assault charge, it is important to hire an experienced, aggressive lawyer to represent you. The attorneys at Malarcik Pierce Munyer Will have successfully defended hundreds of adult and juvenile clients. We work hard to get the best results possible for our clients.

Assault is causing, or attempting to cause, physical harm to a person, including a fetus.

Depending upon the circumstances, the charges and the penalties can vary quite a lot, from a third-degree Misdemeanor all the way to a second-degree Felony. Assault may, but is not required to, involve the use of a weapon, a vehicle (including automobiles, motorcycles, boats, snowmobiles, aircraft, and locomotives), or sexual contact if you are HIV positive.

The severity of the charges depends upon your state of mind and the status of the victim:

• Were you merely negligent? Or were you reckless? Or were you knowing (deliberate)?
• Were you provoked by the victim and acting in a sudden fit of rage?
• Were you the caretaker of a functionally impaired person?
• Was the victim a law enforcement or corrections officer? A doctor, nurse, or EMS provider? A judge or firefighter?
• If a vehicle was involved, were you under the influence? Were you in a construction zone? Did you have a valid    operator’s license?
• Have you pled guilty or been convicted of assault before?

The answers to these questions will affect not only the charges against you, but the possible sentence if you are convicted.

Assault cases are determined by the facts that can be proved in court. Because the charges and sentences vary so widely, the skill and experience of your criminal defense lawyer is especially important. Conviction results in a permanent criminal record that can follow you throughout your lifetime, impacting your employment, your credit, and even your insurance rates.

Penalties if you are convicted of assault may include:

•   Jail or prison time
•   Fines
•   Restitution
•   Community Service
•   Probation

You can reduce or even avoid the most serious of these penalties by hiring a skilled, experienced defense lawyer to assist you. At Malarcik Pierce Munyer Will, we will work to get the charges against you dismissed entirely, if possible. We will negotiate a reduction in the charges, if that is the best option. We will aggressively defend you in court, if necessary.

Being charged with assault is a serious matter: it can affect your future employment, your family life, your finances, and your freedom.

The court process moves quickly, and the sooner you have a criminal defense lawyer working for you, the more likely you will have a good result.

Call us today: (330) 253-0785.

Our offices are located in downtown Akron, at 121 S. Main St., Ste. 520. We serve clients in courts throughout Northeast Ohio, including Cleveland, Akron, Canton, Youngstown, and the surrounding areas.