San Antonio Criminal Defense Lawyer
Have you been accused of any crime related to assault and/or battery in Texas? It is of the utmost importance that you take full advantage of your right to legal counsel. As an experienced San Antonio criminal defense attorney, Tylden Shaeffer can offer you the guidance and support you deserve.
Assault and battery are actually two separate criminal offenses but are often grouped together and the terms used interchangeably. As such, a person may face assault or battery charges, or both, under Texas criminal law. Simply defined, an assault is an attempt or threat of bodily injury to another person. Battery involves the act of violence itself, most often resulting in physical injury to another. For example, a person may brandish a firearm and threaten to shoot someone. That would be classified as an assault, whereas actually shooting the person may be classified as battery. Assault may also be referred to as an attempted battery. When assault and battery involves the use of a firearm or other deadly weapon, a defendant can expect to face enhanced charges and steeper penalties.
Penalties for Assault and Battery in Texas
The specific penalties for an assault and battery conviction in Texas will vary depending on the specific offense. However, it is always wise to involve a lawyer as soon as possible to mitigate any criminal penalties that you may face. These charges may be classified as misdemeanors or serious felonies, depending on whether a weapon was used, the extent of injury to the victim, whether the victim was a police officer, and similar issues. Assault and battery committed against a person because of his or her race, nationality, religion, or sexual orientation may also result in serious hate crime charges and therefore increased penalties.
To have the best opportunity of avoiding imprisonment, fines, and other serious penalties, contact San Antonio assault and battery attorney Tylden Shaeffer today!