If you have been arrested for assault, then you need to hire an experienced criminal defense lawyer who can provide the best legal defense for a violent crime.
Legally, you can be arrested for assault when you cause bodily injury to another person or threaten another with imminent bodily injury. Bodily injury means any contact that causes pain, even if ever so slightly.
An assault is a class A misdemeanor which means if convicted you can get up to a year in the county jail and up to a $4,000.00 fine. However, an assault can be a third-degree felony if it is committed against a public servant who is acting in their official capacity at the time of the assault. A public servant can mean a police officer, fireman, EMT, or any person who works for the government or contracts with the government. It is also a third-degree felony to assault a security guard who is on duty. If convicted, you could receive a minimum of two years and up to a maximum of ten years in the Texas Department of Corrections and up to a $10,000.00.
An assault can also occur as a result of offensive or provocative contact, such as pushing someone. This could result in a class C misdemeanor which means a fine of up to $500.00 if convicted.
(a) A person commits an offense if the person: (1) intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly causes bodily injury to another, including the person’s spouse; (2) intentionally or knowingly threatens another with imminent bodily injury, including the person’s spouse; or (3) intentionally or knowingly causes physical contact with another when the person knows or should reasonably believe that the other will regard the contact as offensive or provocative. (b) An offense under Subsection (a)(1) is a Class A misdemeanor, except that the offense is a felony of the third degree if the offense is committed against: (1) a person the actor knows is a public servant while the public servant is lawfully discharging an official duty, or in retaliation or on account of an exercise of official power or performance of an official duty as a public servant; (2) a person whose relationship to or association with the defendant is described by Section 71.0021(b), 71.003, or 71.005, Family Code, if: (A) it is shown on the trial of the offense that the defendant has been previously convicted of an offense under this chapter, Chapter 19, or Section 20.03, 20.04, 21.11, or 25.11 against a person whose relationship to or association with the defendant is described by Section 71.0021(b), 71.003, or 71.005, Family Code; or (B) the offense is committed by intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly impeding the normal breathing or circulation of the blood of the person by applying pressure to the person’s throat or neck or by blocking the person’s nose or mouth; (3) a person who contracts with government to perform a service in a facility as defined by Section 1.07(a)(14), Penal Code, or Section 51.02(13) or (14), Family Code, or an employee of that person: (A) while the person or employee is engaged in performing a service within the scope of the contract, if the actor knows the person or employee is authorized by government to provide the service; or (B) in retaliation for or on account of the person’s or employee’s performance of a service within the scope of the contract; (4) a person the actor knows is a security officer while the officer is performing a duty as a security officer; (5) a person the actor knows is emergency services personnel while the person is providing emergency services; or (6) a pregnant individual to force the individual to have an abortion. (b-1) Notwithstanding Subsection (b), an offense under Subsection (a)(1) is a felony of the third degree if the offense is committed: (1) while the actor is committed to a civil commitment facility; and (2) against: (A) an officer or employee of the Texas Civil Commitment Office: (i) while the officer or employee is lawfully discharging an official duty at a civil commitment facility; or (ii) in retaliation for or on account of an exercise of official power or performance of an official duty by the officer or employee; or (B) a person who contracts with the state to perform a service in a civil commitment facility or an employee of that person: (i) while the person or employee is engaged in performing a service within the scope of the contract, if the actor knows the person or employee is authorized by the state to provide the service; or (ii) in retaliation for or on account of the person’s or employee’s performance of a service within the scope of the contract. (b-2) Notwithstanding Subsection (b)(2), an offense under Subsection (a)(1) is a felony of the second degree if: (1) the offense is committed against a person whose relationship to or association with the defendant is described by Section 71.0021(b), 71.003, or 71.005, Family Code; (2) it is shown on the trial of the offense that the defendant has been previously convicted of an offense under this chapter, Chapter 19, or Section 20.03, 20.04, or 21.11 against a person whose relationship to or association with the defendant is described by Section 71.0021(b), 71.003, or 71.005, Family Code; and (3) the offense is committed by intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly impeding the normal breathing or circulation of the blood of the person by applying pressure to the person’s throat or neck or by blocking the person’s nose or mouth. (b-2) Notwithstanding Subsection (b)(1), an offense under Subsection (a)(1) is a felony of the second degree if the offense is committed against a person the actor knows is a peace officer or judge while the officer or judge is lawfully discharging an official duty or in retaliation or on account of an exercise of official power or performance of an official duty as a peace officer or judge. (c) An offense under Subsection (a)(2) or (3) is a Class C misdemeanor, except that the offense is: (1) a Class A misdemeanor if the offense is committed under Subsection (a)(3) against an elderly individual or disabled individual, as those terms are defined by Section 22.04; (2) a Class B misdemeanor if the offense is committed by a person who is not a sports participant against a person the actor knows is a sports participant either: (A) while the participant is performing duties or responsibilities in the participant’s capacity as a sports participant; or (B) in retaliation for or on account of the participant’s performance of a duty or responsibility within the participant’s capacity as a sports participant; or (3) a Class A misdemeanor if the offense is committed against a pregnant individual to force the individual to have an abortion. (d) For purposes of Subsection (b), the actor is presumed to have known the person assaulted was a public servant, a security officer, or emergency services personnel if the person was wearing a distinctive uniform or badge indicating the person’s employment as a public servant or status as a security officer or emergency services personnel. (f) For the purposes of Subsections (b)(2)(A) and (b-2)(2): (1) a defendant has been previously convicted of an offense listed in those subsections committed against a person whose relationship to or association with the defendant is described by Section 71.0021(b), 71.003, or 71.005, Family Code, if the defendant was adjudged guilty of the offense or entered a plea of guilty or nolo contendere in return for a grant of deferred adjudication, regardless of whether the sentence for the offense was ever imposed or whether the sentence was probated and the defendant was subsequently discharged from community supervision; and (2) a conviction under the laws of another state for an offense containing elements that are substantially similar to the elements of an offense listed in those subsections is a conviction of the offense listed.