Felonious assault is a serious criminal offense, and the penalties for it can be quite severe. If you’ve been charged with felonious assault, it’s important to understand what the crime entails and how a conviction of such an offense could affect your future.

Definition

Felonious assault is defined as an attack or attempted attack by one person upon another that causes physical harm or puts the victim in fear of imminent physical harm. An assault may involve the use of weapons and does not necessarily require physical contact between the victim and assailant. Depending on your state, this type of assault may also be referred to as “aggravated” or “malicious” assault.

Penalties for Felonious Assault

The penalties for felonious assault vary from state to state but commonly involve jail time, fines, probation, community service, and/or other court-ordered sanctions. In some cases, a felony conviction may result in up to 15 years in prison and thousands of dollars in fines depending on the severity of the crime and applicable laws. In addition to legal consequences, a felony conviction can have lasting impacts on your personal life—such as difficulty obtaining employment or housing—for years to come.

Legal Defenses

If you have been charged with assault, there are several potential defenses available to you which could potentially reduce or even dismiss your charges if successful.

Common defenses include self-defense, defense of others (e.g., protecting a family member from harm), consent (e.g., agreeing to engage in boxing match that results in injury), accidental injury (e.g., throwing something that unintentionally hits someone), identity (e.g., being mistaken for another person who committed the offense), insanity (e.g., not being able to distinguish right from wrong at the time of the alleged incident) among others depending on your state’s laws and circumstances surrounding your case.

It is best to consult with an experienced criminal defense attorney who can provide you with guidance regarding potential defenses available in your case.

In conclusion, assault is a serious criminal offense which carries substantial legal consequences if convicted. If you are facing charges for this offense it is important that you understand all aspects of your case so you can make informed decisions about how best proceed with defending yourself against such charges.

A knowledgeable criminal defense attorney can help guide you through this process and explain any potential defenses available based on your particular situation so that you can make an informed decision about how best defend yourself against these charges.