Assault charges alone carry serious legal consequences, but in many cases, they can be accompanied by other criminal charges. If you are charged with assault, it usually arises out of a volatile situation. It could be a simple argument that gets very heated, and the combatants decide to escalate the dispute. Or it could be a case of aggravated assault where it makes sense that added charges of aggravated battery or domestic violence are justified.
Understanding how assault charges can intertwine with other offenses is crucial for comprehending the severity of the situation and its potential implications. Vic Wiegand, a leading criminal defense attorney in Georgia, is all too familiar with defending a client who has multiple charges stemming from one incident. In this Blog, let’s explore some common criminal charges that may accompany assault charges, emphasizing the impact that being involved in an assault can have on legal proceedings.
Simple Assault
Simple assault in Georgia is intentionally causing fear to another person, meaning you make them fear that you will physically hurt them or cause some type of offensive contact. This could mean a threat or a physical use of force that wasn’t successful. It is considered a misdemeanor offense under Georgia law.
But let’s say you continue beyond your threats and physically insult or harm the other person. This can mean something as simple as an offensive spit in the face, a slap to the face, or striking someone with an object, like a bottle or book. If no serious physical injury occurs, the charge doesn’t rise to a felony level, but it is Simple Battery. Add that charge!
Take it a step further and this assault took place in a bar. Battery charges can often arise in the case of fighting, such as after a bar closes. You were intoxicated so maybe now law enforcement decides to add charges like disorderly conduct, public intoxication, and disturbing the peace. If one side is the clear aggressor and strikes the other, that would be a case of battery.
If the aggressor attempts to commit another crime while battering someone, such as robbing them, it can become aggravated.
Aggravated Assault and Aggravated Battery
Aggravated Assault charges arise when the act of simple assault is elevated due to certain aggravating factors. These factors can include the use of a deadly weapon, intent to cause serious bodily harm, or assault against specific protected individuals such as police officers, public servants, or vulnerable individuals like children or the elderly. When an assault is deemed aggravated, the charges become more serious (felony), leading to greater penalties if convicted.
Aggravated battery is a bit more gruesome as it is when a person “maliciously causes bodily harm to another by depriving him or her of a member of his or her body, by rendering a member of his or her body useless, or by seriously disfiguring his or her body or a member.” For example, causing someone to lose a body part like a hand, or causing someone to lose the use of a leg, or mutilating their face. And of course, also a felony.
So, imagine you pull out a gun (the aggravated assault) and use it, causing the victim to lose the use of their leg permanently or temporarily (aggravated battery). You could be charged with aggravated assault, aggravated battery, attempted murder, and if the person died of their wound later, add homicide!
Contact Leading Georgia Criminal Defense Lawyer
As you can see, assault charges can easily be accompanied by other criminal charges that compound the legal consequences. If faced with assault charges or multiple criminal charges stemming from an incident, you will want an experienced criminal defense attorney to represent you.
Vic Wiegand, with over 25 years of experience practicing as a Criminal Defense lawyer is a courtroom-tested trial lawyer with a proven record of achieving excellent results, as well as a keen negotiator with prosecutors. Attorney Wiegand is well respected by local prosecutors, judges, and Forsyth County courthouse administration. Serving clients in Cumming, Georgia and throughout Forsyth County, his clients are grateful for his help in beating criminal charges. Check out his clients’ testimonials.
