Assault Defense Lawyers in New Jersey

Proficiently Helping You Get the Results You Need

There are two kinds of assault: Simple assault and aggravated assault. The difference between the two may mean you wind up with a fine or probation compared to 10 years in prison.

Aggravated Assault

The law identifies no less than 11 different ways a person may commit aggravated assault.

The more common examples include:

• Causing bodily injury with a deadly weapon;
• Pointing a firearm at a person whether or not it is loaded;
• Committing a simple assault against certain public officials such as a train conductor or a teacher;
• Causing bodily injury while fleeing the police; or
• Causing bodily injury by starting a fire or causing an explosion.

When a person is charged with aggravated assault, competent counsel may be able to convince the police, prosecutors, or judge that the circumstances warrant the crime to be treated as a simple assault.

Simple Assault

A person commits a simple assault in one of three ways:

• Recklessly, knowingly, or intentionally causing injury to someone else;
• Negligently causing injury to someone else by using a deadly weapon; or
• Attempting, by physical threat, to put someone else in fear of imminent serious injury.

Simple assault is charged as a disorderly persons offense unless it occurs in a fight between two consenting people, in which case it is charged as a petty disorderly persons offense. If you are facing a violent crimes charge, you should hire a skilled criminal defense lawyer in New Jersey.