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1105 Tacoma Avenue South, Tacoma, WA 98402
A law firm in Seattle, Washington, Michael Austin Stewart, Attorney at Law experienced in helping clients with Assault issues.
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PO Box 50, Cle Elum, WA 98922
Contact Heritage Law Office in Seattle, Washington for experienced legal assistance in Assault.
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10700 Meridian Ave N, Suite 108, Seattle, WA 98133
Other Nearby Offices
Contact Law Offices of Jason S. Newcombe in Seattle, Washington for experienced legal assistance in Assault.
Assault Lawyers | Seattle Office
1501 Fourth Avenue, Suite 1750, Seattle, WA 98101
Assault Lawyers | Tacoma Office | Serving Seattle, WA
705 S. 9th St, Suite 204, Tacoma, WA 98405
Assault Lawyers | Tacoma Office | Serving Seattle, WA
1201 Pacific Ave, Suite 600, Tacoma, WA 98402
Assault Lawyers | Seattle Office
600 University St., Suite 3010, Seattle, WA 98101
Assault Lawyers | Seattle Office
701 5th Ave, Suite 2460, Seattle, WA 98104
Assault Lawyers | Seattle Office
720 3rd Ave, Suite 2015, Seattle, WA 98104
Assault Lawyers | Seattle Office
108 S. Washington Street, Suite 406, Seattle, WA 98104
Assault Lawyers | Lakewood Office | Serving Seattle, WA
5611 76th St W, Suite A, Lakewood, WA 98499
Assault Lawyers | Everett Office | Serving Seattle, WA
9924 4th Ave W, Everett, WA 98204
Assault Lawyers | Seattle Office
215 NE 40th St, Ste C3, Seattle, WA 98105
Assault Lawyers | Lynnwood Office | Serving Seattle, WA
19303 44th Avenue West, Suite A, Lynnwood, WA 98036-5664
Assault Lawyers | Federal Way Office | Serving Seattle, WA
500 S 336th St, Suite 218, Federal Way, WA 98003
Assault Lawyers | Seattle Office
520 Pike Street, Suite 2300, Seattle, WA 98101
Assault Lawyers | Seattle Office
1420 Fifth Avenue, Suite 2200, Seattle, WA 98101
Assault Lawyers | Tacoma Office | Serving Seattle, WA
1008 Yakima Ave, Suite 202, Tacoma, WA 98405
Assault Lawyers | Bellevue Office | Serving Seattle, WA
1950 112th Ave NE, Suite 201, Bellevue, WA 98004
Assault Lawyers | Seattle Office
3250 Airport Way S, Suite 206, Seattle, WA 98134
Assault Lawyers | Newcastle Office | Serving Seattle, WA
12835 Newcastle Way, Sute 301, Newcastle, WA 98056
Assault Lawyers | Seattle Office
PO Box 77041, Seattle, WA 98177
Assault Lawyers | Tacoma Office | Serving Seattle, WA
950 Pacific Ave., Suite 705, Tacoma, WA 98402
Assault Lawyers | Fall City Office | Serving Seattle, WA
32116 SE Red Fall City Rd, Fall City, WA 98024
Assault Lawyers | Seattle Office
2025 1st Avenue, Suite 1140, Seattle, WA 98121
Lead Counsel independently verifies Assault attorneys in Seattle and checks their standing with Washington bar associations.
Our Verification Process and CriteriaIf you need to defend against criminal assault charges, a Seattle criminal assault lawyer can make all the difference. Assault charges are serious and no one should try and defend themselves without legal help.
Since an assault can be both a crime and a tort, you can be held civilly and criminally responsible. Each state has its own definition of what the crime of assault entails and normally includes the victim apprehending some sort of harmful and/or offensive contact. It can also be when there is an attempted battery, but it was not successful.
The most commonly encountered forms of assault are simple assault, aggravated assault, verbal assault and sexual assault.
Simple assault refers to any violence, or threat thereof, which does not involve the use of a deadly weapon. One example of simple assault might be a fellow patron threatening to punch you in the face over a disagreement at a bar, and another might be getting involved in the fight that follows.
Aggravated assault is a more serious form of assault, and by definition involves the use of a deadly weapon. Someone threatening to kill you while brandishing a firearm could be found guilty of aggravated assault, for example.
Sexual assault occurs when an offender, without the consent of the victim, engages in any non-consensual sexual act. A bar patron groping another guest’s breasts without their consent would constitute an act of sexual assault.
Verbal assault is as it sounds, and is typically more of a societal infraction or grounds for a civil suit rather than a criminal case. While verbal assault may be part of a simple or basic assault charge (threats of violence, if credible, do constitute assault) it is not a criminal charge in and of itself.
Assault can be charged as either a misdemeanor or a felony offense, based both on the jurisdiction as well as the severity of the alleged offense itself.
What was earlier described as simple assault is more commonly charged as a misdemeanor. A blow to the chest that left no lasting medical impression on the victim could be charged as a misdemeanor if the offender is a first-time offender. That being said, repeat offenders may see an instance that may have been afforded leniency by a court prosecutor escalated to a felony offense.
Instances of aggravated assault, however — even if not legally differentiated from assault or battery in a particular case — are almost always charged as felony offenses. Cutting someone with a knife, shooting someone with a gun or any other instance of serious physical violence which results in non-superficial bodily harm are instances in which felony charges are likely.
It should also be noted that assault and battery are commonly conflated, and some jurisdictions do not differentiate between the two. In jurisdictions that do delineate the two charges, battery typically requires that physical contact is actually made between the offender and victim during the offense, while assault does not require this element.
There are several different degrees of assault. Assault with intent to murder can result in imprisonment for a period of up to 20 years if convicted, while assault with a dangerous weapon can be penalized by up to 10 years behind bars. Simple assault can result in fines as well as a jail sentence of up to one year.
Many state courts treat assault under a difference of degrees. In some states, for example, an assault can be charged as a Class A misdemeanor, as a Class D felony or as a Class B felony. If you are charged a misdemeanor, you could be penalized with a fine, a jail sentence and probation for years. A Class D felony conviction could lead to incarceration, while a Class B felony conviction can result in a sentence of between three to 25 years imprisonment.
If you are facing assault charges, whether felony or misdemeanor and at the state or federal level, it is highly advisable that you secure the services of an experienced criminal defense attorney.
Assault charges are taken quite seriously by courts, and a conviction will result not only in potential incarceration, hefty fines and restitution but also a criminal record. A skilled lawyer can help you navigate the options available to you and craft the best defense possible.
No matter what your legal issue may be, it is always best to seek legal help early in the process. An attorney can help secure what is likely to be the best possible outcome for your situation and avoid both unnecessary complications or errors.
If you need to defend against criminal assault charges, a Seattle criminal assault lawyer can make all the difference. Assault charges are serious and no one should try and defend themselves without legal help.
In legal practice, experience matters. An experienced attorney will likely have handled issues similar to yours many, many times. Therefore, after listening to your situation, the attorney should have a reasonable idea of the time line for a case like yours and the likely resolution.
Prepare for your consultation by writing down notes of your understanding of the case, jot down questions and concerns for the attorney, and gather your documents. Remember that you are trying to get a sense of whether the attorney has your trust and can help you address your legal issues. Questions should include how the attorney intends to resolve your issue, how many years he/she has been practicing law and specifically practicing in your area, as well as how many cases similar to yours the attorney has handled. It can also be helpful to broach the subject of fees so that you understand the likely cost and structure of your representation by a specific attorney and/or legal team.
Experience. Regardless of the type of legal matter you need help with, an experienced attorney will usually be able to get you better results.
Competence. Determine an attorney’s expertise by asking about their track record for the issue you need help with resolving.
Fit. There are plenty of good attorneys out there; make sure you find one you are comfortable working with.
Pro se – This Latin term refers to representing yourself in court instead of hiring professional legal counsel. Pro se representation can occur in either criminal or civil cases.
Statute – Refers to a law created by a legislative body. For example, the laws enacted by Congress are statutes.
Subject matter jurisdiction – Requirement that a particular court have authority to hear the claim based on the specific type of issue brought to the court. For example, the U.S. Bankruptcy Court only has subject matter jurisdiction over bankruptcy filings, therefore it does not have the authority to render binding judgment over other types of cases, such as divorce.