There are various ways in which an individual can commit assault. With this, various types of penalties come with this conviction. Continue reading to learn the difference between simple assault and aggravated assault and how an experienced Nassau County assault lawyer at The Law Offices of Jacob A. Rudman can help you through this.
How is simple assault different from aggravated assault?
First of all, simple assault is seen as an act that is intended to instill fear in another person. While this act may not involve actual physical contact, it may involve the threat of violence toward another person. With that being said, you may be accused of simple assault if any of the following apply:
- You moved your body toward another person in a threatening manner.
- You verbally threatened another person with violence.
- You physically touched another person during an argument.
On the other hand, aggravated assault is seen as an act that inflicts serious bodily injury on another person. More often than not, such an act is performed while using or threatening to use a deadly weapon. And so, you may be accused of aggravated assault if any of the following apply:
- You revealed or used a pocket knife to injure another person.
- You revealed or used a gun to shoot another person.
- You threw or used a glass bottle to strike another person.
- You committed the assault while intending to commit another felony crime (i.e., robbery or rape).
What are the different penalties for simple assault and aggravated assault?
As you can likely deduce, simple assault and aggravated assault are seen as rather different crimes by New York law. This is why each type of assault comes with its own set of potential penalties.
For one, simple assault is classified as a Class A misdemeanor. The penalties associated with this are jail time for up to one year, probation time for up to three years, and fines of up to $1,000.
Then, aggravated assault can be classified as either a Class D felony or a Class B felony. The penalties associated with this are jail time that ranges anywhere between three to 25 years and fines of up to $5,000.
How can a Nassau County criminal defense attorney help me?
If you have been accused of assault, whether it be simple or aggravated, you should not take this lightly.
Instead, you must seek immediate legal representation from a skilled Nassau County criminal defense attorney. With experience on our side, we will do everything in our power to reduce or altogether eliminate the potential penalties you are up against.
So, without further hesitation, call The Law Office of Jacob A. Rudman to schedule your initial consultation.
