Right now, you may be facing a criminal assault charge. If so, you’re likely worried about a hefty fine and jail time. You might also be worried about life after serving a sentence and how life will change for you and your family.
Our firm can help. Our Harris County criminal defense lawyer, Jay Cohen, will fight on your behalf for a dismissal of the charge or another favorable outcome. You can expect him to understand your situation right now, consider your future needs, and then build your defense accordingly. You can also be confident in Jay’s abilities since he has a history of success.
What Happens if I’m Convicted on an Assault Charge?
There are different kinds of assault, such as aggravated assault. Depending on the kind of assault, a conviction can have different consequences in Harris County, Texas. The consequences also depend on whether the conviction is treated as a misdemeanor or a felony and whether the misdemeanor or felony is major.
In Texas, as of 2023, the potential consequences of a criminal assault conviction are:
- A fine of up to $500 and no jail time for a Class C misdemeanor
- A fine of up to $2,000 and/or up to 180 days (six months) in jail for a Class B misdemeanor
- A fine of up to $4,000 and/or up to a year of jail for a Class A misdemeanor
- A fine of up to $10,000 and at least two years and up to 10 years of jail time for a third-degree felony
- A fine of up to $10,000 and at least two years and up to 20 years of jail time for a second-degree felony
- A fine of up to $10,000 and at least five years and up to 99 years of jail time for a first-degree felony
Assault charges involving a family or household member can lead to protective orders, jail time, and long-term consequences. A Harris County family member assault lawyer can help you understand your legal options and fight to defend your reputation and freedom.
What Also Happens to You
There are further possible consequences of a criminal conviction in a Harris, TX, criminal case, including:
- Losing custody of your children
- Losing your job or ability to earn income
- Difficulty finding a job in the future
- Difficulty getting a loan
- Difficulty getting a mortgage
- Trouble getting into educational programs
- Additional consequences if you’re convicted of another charge
Should You Hire a Harris County Assault Defense Lawyer?
If you hire Texas defense attorney Jay Cohen, he will do everything in his power to fight for your charges to be dropped or reduced. As a result, you may be able to avoid most or even all the consequences, depending on your situation.
One of the first things Jay will do is try to understand your situation and consider your needs so he can build and tailor your defense for you. Then, he will consider one or more of the following strategies (and other strategies) for your defense:
- Establishing your position: An attorney can defend you and seek out evidence to assert your position, such as an alibi from a character witness (like a friend) or even testimony from an expert witness (like a physician). Then, your lawyer will make your case to the judge and/or jury.
- Arguing your actions were an accident: You may have accidentally harmed the other party. If so, your lawyer will argue your actions were not assault. To make this case, your lawyer can refer the judge to Texas Penal Code § 22.01.
- Arguing your actions were in defense: If you acted out of self-preservation, a lawyer can show your actions were justified. To make this case, your lawyer can refer to Texas Penal Code § 9.31.
- Stating certain evidence is inadmissible: If any evidence was obtained illegally, such as through an illegal search, your lawyer can argue that evidence can’t be used against you. If this evidence is dismissed, your charge could be dismissed along with it.
- Stating some evidence is insufficient: Your lawyer can actually examine the other side’s evidence against you to see whether it’s enough to convict you. If there are any issues regarding the evidence, such as any issues related to how some evidence was maintained, your lawyer could argue this evidence can’t be used against you.
- Showing inconsistencies with the testimony: Your lawyer can also examine and evaluate the other party’s statements against you. If there are any issues, such as inconsistencies, your lawyer will detect them and then show them to the judge. Your lawyer can even cross-examine a witness to find inconsistencies in their testimony.
- Showing reasonable doubt in the case: When the opportunity presents itself, your lawyer will show the court that there is reasonable doubt in your case. This may convince the court to vote that you’re not guilty of a crime.
More From Your Harris County, TX, Defense Lawyer
Defense attorney Jay Cohen can do much more for you, depending on the situation. For instance, if necessary, he could:
- Request a plea deal and minor misdemeanor consequences from the judge
- Argue for certain privileges
- Negotiate a low bail amount
Should I Hire Harris County Assault Defense Attorney Jay Cohen?
You deserve dedicated representation, and Harris County defense attorney Jay Cohen can provide that. He has spent over 14 years defending clients and has never been a criminal prosecutor who works to convict the accused, so he has shown how dedicated he is to defendants like you.
Jay has also shown he is worthy of his clients’ confidence. He has a history of success, such as when he successfully defended a client accused of assaulting a family member. The client was facing a felony conviction, but Jay worked to have the charge dismissed.
Jay also has several certifications and memberships that show his dedication to the legal profession and his clients:
- Membership in the Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association
- Membership in the Houston Bar Association
- Membership in the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association
- Membership in the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
- Certification in forensic chromatography for drugs and alcohol
- Certification as an ACS-CHAL forensic lawyer-scientist
Contact Us Today for Help From a Harris County, TX, Assault Defense Lawyer
If you’re facing a criminal assault charge in Harris County, TX, our criminal defense law firm can help. Jay Cohen, our assault defense lawyer in the county, will fight hard for you just as he’s fought for many other people before you. You can be confident in his ability to defend you.
To learn more and consult with us, contact Blass Law today.