Hanover Assault Lawyer

Facing assault charges can be stressful, particularly when the specific charges are for felony assault. Offenses can be categorized as misdemeanors or felonies. Felony offenses tend to be more serious and are associated with more severe legal sanctions.

Fortunately, you do not have to face charges of assault alone. A Hanover assault lawyer could help you. When you hire an experienced criminal defense attorney, you will have someone on your side working on your behalf to obtain the best possible legal outcome.

How an Assault Attorney Could Help

An assault attorney in Hanover could provide legal assistance in several ways to persons facing charges of assault. A lawyer could help with navigating the often complicated legal system, answer any questions relating to the charges and what to expect during legal proceedings, and provide legal representation.

An assault lawyer could also prepare an appropriate defense strategy and fight on your behalf to possibly obtain the best legal outcome.

Assault Laws in Virginia

Offenses involving assault in Hanover are categorized as crimes against the person and are outlined in the Code of Virginia (see Title 18.2, Chapter 4, Article 4, Assaults and Bodily Woundings). The code outlines the different types of offenses involving assault, whether a specific offense is a misdemeanor or felony, and the legal sanctions for convictions of each type of offense.

A legal professional could explain Virginia assault laws in greater detail. Examples of offenses for which a person can be charged with assault in Hanover include:

  • Assault and battery
  • Strangulation
  • Aggravated malicious wounding
  • Shooting or stabbing a person with the intent to maim or kill
  • Inflicting malicious bodily injury on a police or law enforcement officer
  • Injuring someone as a result of driving while intoxicated

Potential Legal Penalties for Assault

The legal penalties for a conviction of assault in Hanover can range from a jail term of not more than one year and/or a fine of up to $2,500 for simple assault to a prison term of five to 20 years and a possible fine of $100,000 for more serious assault charges. Assault-related offenses are categorized as misdemeanor or felony offenses. Felony offenses are generally more serious than misdemeanors and are associated with more severe legal penalties.

Misdemeanor offenses are separated into four classes. Class 1 offenses are the most serious and have the most severe penalties among the four classes of misdemeanors. Felony offenses are divided into six classes. Class 1 felony offenses are the most serious of the six felony classes and carry the lengthiest prison sentence and largest fine.

Charges can be elevated from a lower class felony or misdemeanor offense to a higher one when aggravating circumstances exist, such as prior convictions for the same offense. If the charges are elevated, then the potential penalty for a conviction will also be more severe. A knowledgeable Hanover assault lawyer could provide further details regarding the potential legal penalties associated with a conviction for either a misdemeanor or felony assault.

Talk to a Hanover Assault Lawyer

Facing assault charges can be frightening and attempting to navigate the complicated legal system on your own can be overwhelming. You do not have to fight charges of assault by yourself.

A Hanover assault lawyer could represent you and handle all legal matters on your behalf, including fighting to obtain the best legal result possible for you. If you are facing allegations of assualt, contact a Hanover assault attorney today.