Are You Facing Assault Charges in Connecticut?

 Posted on December 03, 2019 in Assault and Battery

At common law, assault was the crime of threatening or menacing someone into believing they are about to be harmed. However, in Connecticut, the definition actually requires physical contact and can be tried as a misdemeanor or a felony. If you have been charged with assault, you need an experienced attorney on your side to help ensure that your rights are protected in court.

Several Degrees

Assault in Connecticut can be charged in three different degrees, as of current law, with the specific choice of charge being affected by the severity of the incident. For example, if you cause bodily harm to someone with the intent to hurt them (as opposed to having intent to kill), you would likely be charged with third-degree assault, a Class A misdemeanor. Comparatively, if you cause serious physical injury to someone with intent (or with extreme recklessness), you would most likely be charged with first-degree assault, which is a Class B felony.

In Connecticut, you might also be charged with aggravated assault, which is an enhancement to an assault charge, rather than an individual charge on its own. In other words, a person will be charged with assault, but if they allegedly committed assault with ‘aggravating factors’ (such as, say, the use of a weapon, or the victim being a vulnerable person such as a disabled or elderly person), their charge may be ‘enhanced’ to aggravated assault. Aggravated assault carries stiffer penalties than a standard assault charge.

Hard to Make Deals

One important thing that many assault defendants are not aware of in Connecticut is that in many cases - and definitely in serious assault cases - it is harder to negotiate a deal or suspend your sentence than it might be in other types of criminal cases. Assault is considered a relatively serious crime, even at lower degrees, because the intent to injure another person is detrimental to society, and swift consequences must be levied to deter people from giving in to that impulse. Because of this, Connecticut law sets out requirements that given sentences must be served.

A conviction for assault can be a serious problem for you in the future, potentially causing issues with housing, employment, finances and more. Because of this, it is important that you find an attorney who can defend you ably - for example, arguing that you lacked the appropriate intent to be charged with assault (intent to injure is a requirement to establish the crime), or trying to establish mitigating circumstances. Everyone is entitled to their day in court.

Can a Stamford Assault Attorney Help You?

An assault charge is a very serious issue that requires experienced and dedicated legal representation from a skilled Stamford assault attorney to overcome. Attorney Daniel P. Weiner has handled assault charges for many years and knows the system inside and out. The Law Offices of Daniel P. Weiner will work hard to make sure that you have the best chance possible for your case to reach a fair and appropriate outcome. Call us today at 203-348-5846 for a free consultation.

Source:

https://www.cga.ct.gov/current/pub/chap_952.htm#sec_53a-59