What Are The Penalties for Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon in TX?

Assaultive offenses in Texas carry severe penalties. If you have been charged with aggravated assault, which is assault with a deadly weapon, a conviction could be particularly more severe. If you have yet to consult a skilled Plano, TX, aggravated assault attorney, here’s what you need to know about aggravated assault charges and penalties in Texas.

Understanding Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon Charges and Potential Penalties

A charge of aggravated assault is usually a second-degree felony. It is punishable by imprisonment of two to 20 years and fines as much as $10,000. In some cases, this charge can be raised to a first-degree felony. A first-degree aggravated assault charge carries fines as much as $10,000 and five to 99 years of imprisonment. Circumstances that may raise a second-degree felony aggravated assault to a first-degree felony include:

• The defendant caused serious bodily injury to a partner, ex-partner, spouse, ex-spouse, co-parent, or other family members.

• The defendant injured a public servant, like a security officer that was doing their job.

• The defendant injured a witness in retaliation due to a criminal case.

• The defendant was in a vehicle and recklessly and intentionally fired a firearm pointed at another occupied vehicle, building, or home and caused serious bodily injury to another individual.

A serious bodily injury is an injury that causes death, protracted impairment or loss of function of a bodily organ or member, permanent disfigurement, or increases the risk of another individual’s death.

What Exactly is a Deadly Weapon?

A deadly weapon used in committing aggravated assault can mean:

• Firearms or anything intentionally adapted, created, or designed to inflict serious injury or death.

• Anything that its intended use or manner of use can cause serious injury or death.

“Anything” can mean all sorts of weapons aside from firearms. Likewise, the intended use or manner of use opens up the deadly weapon definition to wider interpretation, depending on how a defendant used the weapon.

Apart from common deadly weapons, like various guns or firearms, deadly weapons can include knives, axes, spears, saws, swords, ropes, brass knuckles, or anything that can be utilized to stab, cut, choke, or otherwise seriously injure or kill another individual. This means that even a rock or a chair may be considered a deadly weapon under the law. Additionally, even motor vehicles or your teeth, hands, fists, feet, or legs may be considered deadly weapons depending on how they were utilized when committing an assault.

Reach Out to a Skilled Collin County, Plano, TX, Aggravated Assault Attorney Today

Regardless of where or when and the circumstances that led to the incident, if you or a loved one is facing an aggravated assault with a deadly weapon charge, you must act quickly to protect your interests and legal rights. To discuss your case and better understand the charges against you, get in touch with The Law Office of J. Michael Price II now. You can set up your free case evaluation with our Plano, TX, aggravated assault attorney by calling 214-765-8000 or reaching us online.