Allegations of assault can not only ruin a person’s reputation, but they can also potentially expose them to a laundry list of harsh penalties.

For this reason, it is imperative that a defendant retain the services of a powerful defense attorney in order to protect their freedom. If you are currently facing charges of assault in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, Joshua T. Crain, Attorney at Law is prepared to aggressively defend your freedom.

A former prosecutor, Joshua T. Crain Attorney at Law can use its invaluable insight to pick apart the opposition’s case and maximize your chances of securing a desirable outcome. Backed by a 10.0 Superb Avvo Rating and a two-time inclusion in the Top 100 Trial Lawyers list, he is willing to go the distance on your behalf and stand by your side during this difficult time.

An overview of assault charges in Tennessee

Legally speaking, assault is a violent crime that involves the act of intentionally putting another person in a situation where they reasonably expect to receive some sort of harmful or offensive contact.

A person commits assault when they do any of the following:

1. Intentionally, recklessly, or knowingly cause someone else to suffer bodily injury
2. Cause someone else to suffer reasonable fear of injury
3. Cause physical contact that someone else would find offensive or provocative

Under this definition, you do not need to actually make contact with someone in order to be charged. Simply raising your fist to someone but not actually striking them can lead to an assault charge, which is a Class A misdemeanor. If the assault in question actually caused serious injury and was committed with the use of a deadly weapon, this is a much serious charge of aggravated assault and a felony offense.

Penalties for an assault conviction are as follows:

• For simple assault, up to $5,000 in fines and one year in jail
• For aggravated assault, up to 15 years in prison and $10,000 in fines
• For domestic assault, jail time, protection orders, or loss of parental rights