Wilton Aggravated Assault Lawyer
Facing an arrest, especially in a domestic violence case, can impact your life both personally and professionally. As a felony offense, aggravated forms of assault can result in consequences such as mandatory minimum prison sentences, thousands of dollars in fines, and the publication of your arrest reports and mug shots on the internet.
Often aggravated assault third, second, and first-degree charges stem from domestic disputes where it is difficult to assess blame or determine which party initiated the conflict. That is why it is important to work with an experienced Wilton aggravated assault lawyer. A qualified assault attorney could devote the time and resources necessary to achieve the best possible outcome for you.
How is Aggravated Assault Defined in Wilton?
Though the term aggravated assault is frequently used in connection with criminal cases, it can be difficult to know exactly what the term refers to. There are more than a dozen different crimes defined in the Connecticut statutes and different aggravating factors can escalate an offense to a more serious level (such as a child, pregnant woman, or elderly person).
A criminal assault occurs when someone intentionally injures another. In some cases, an incident can be an assault even if the injury was caused recklessly or even negligently.
As our Wilton lawyers can explain, various factors make a situation more serious and aggravate an assault offense. These factors include the use of a weapon, the imposition of serious injuries, intent to cause serious physical harm, or committed against a vulnerable member of society such as a child, elderly person, or disabled individual.
What is a Deadly Weapon in a Connecticut Arrest?
The most severe crimes other than sexual assault are generally those are considered to be in the first degree. This offense is defined in CGS § 53a-59 of the Connecticut criminal code and though it is often referred to as assault with a deadly weapon, there are circumstances in which someone may violate the statute without any use of a weapon.
Fighting First-Degree Assaults
Under CGS § 53a-59(a)(1), first-degree assault occurs when an individual intentionally causes serious physical injury to another with the use of a “deadly weapon or a dangerous instrument.” Deadly weapons are defined as firearms, certain knives, clubs, and brass knuckles. While this definition is somewhat specific, the definition of dangerous instrument is very broad and includes virtually anything capable of causing serious physical injury, including cars and dogs.
It is worth noting that an individual may face charges of first-degree assault without causing serious physical injury and without intending to cause serious injury if they fire a gun with the intent of causing any type of injury. The use of a firearm will aggravate any assault offense, and therefore, should be handled by an experienced attorney in Wilton.
Other First-Degree Aggravated Assault Arrest Scenarios
In addition to the two situations described above involving the use of a deadly weapon, a person may face charges for first-degree assault in other situations including:
- Intentionally causing permanent disfigurement or disability to another
- Recklessly creating a risk of death to another and causing serious physical injury
- Intentionally causing serious physical injury to another with the assistance of two or more others
First-degree assault is a Class B felony. Penalties include up to 20 years of imprisonment and a fine of up to $15,000. The offense will be treated more seriously if it is carried out against a corrections officer, elderly or disabled person, or pregnant female. If the attack causes termination of a pregnancy it is escalated to a Class A felony. A Wilton lawyer could mitigate the penalties that a person may face for aggravated assault.
Second-Degree Aggravated Assault Offenses
Assault in the second-degree is a Class C or D felony depending on whether serious injury results. Prison sentences range from 1 to 10 years and fines may be assessed at up to $10,000. Second-degree assault arrests are codified in CGS 53a-60 of the Connecticut code, which sets forth 7 different scenarios that can get you arrested for this offense.
Contact a Wilton Aggravated Assault Attorney
An experienced Wilton aggravated assault lawyer who understands how the courts have interpreted the laws in different circumstances is ideally suited to create the best defense strategy for your case. So if you have been arrested for an assault offense, contact an attorney who could begin strategizing about how to protect your rights.