Assault Attorney in League City, TX
It can be overwhelming and confusing to face criminal charges of any kind, but certain charges carry much more severe penalties if convicted. If you find yourself facing assault charges, it’s imperative that you react accordingly and start protecting yourself as soon as possible. A conviction will land you with a criminal record that will stay with you forever, affecting every aspect of your life. You should reach out to a League City assault lawyer for help with your case.
The legal team at The Law Offices of Tad Nelson & Associates understands the inherent difficulties and complexities of an assault case. Having a League City criminal defense attorney in your corner to explain the potential assault penalties and prepare your defense can be indispensable. You will want a League City assault attorney with a vast knowledge of Texas assault laws and experience with cases like yours. Our firm can provide you with support.
How to Handle Yourself After an Arrest
If you are charged with assault in League City, your case will most likely be handled in the Galveston County courts. Felony assault cases are heard in the county’s District Courts, while misdemeanor cases are heard in a county Court of Law. In 2024, there were 17,303 misdemeanor assault cases in Texas and over 27,000 felony aggravated assault cases, as well as attempted murder. It’s important that you retain legal help as soon as possible.
The most important thing to do when you are arrested for assault is to remain calm and rely on your constitutional rights. Assault charges can be significant, and you may be looking at serious jail or prison time if convicted. In 2024, there were 46 criminal sentences carried out for assault, according to data from the United States Sentencing Commission. Here are some steps you can take during and after the arrest to protect yourself from being taken advantage of during all this:
- Above all, exercise your rights, particularly your right to remain silent and your right to legal counsel. When arrested, say nothing to the police. Keep in mind that they may not have as strong a case as they’ve led you to believe, and they may be relying on your confession. You don’t have to speak to them if you don’t want to. Wait for your lawyer and let them speak on your behalf.
- Whatever you do, never try to contact the alleged victim of the assault. You may want to get answers, or you may feel guilty about whatever happened. Keep those feelings to yourself and don’t try to contact them. Doing so could lead to additional charges or violate your bond conditions, leading to harsh consequences.
- Document everything you can. Be sure to write down your recollection of everything that happened. Include witness names, locations, dates, and times, and be as thorough as possible. Give this to your attorney. They can investigate the incident on their own and do what they can to obtain evidence of the incident, such as video footage, audio recordings, and witness statements.
- Be sure to comply with your bond conditions if you are released on bond. Engaging in certain behaviors, breaking a no-contact order, or missing curfews can result in getting arrested again, which will not look good for your case.
- Don’t engage on social media. Avoid discussing the details of the incident online in public forums or even in-person with your friends. Anything you say about the incident can be used against you as evidence, and talking about it candidly on social media platforms can make you appear unbothered by the whole thing. That can hurt your case.
Defenses Against Assault Charges in Texas
When you are arrested for assault, it can feel like you’ve already lost and there’s nothing you can do to defend yourself. That simply isn’t true. You are always innocent until proven guilty, regardless of the alleged crime at hand. Hire a defense lawyer, start building a defense strategy, and rely on evidence that supports you. Here are some of the possible defenses against assault charges that are commonly used throughout Texas:
- Self-defense. This is arguably the most common defense strategy against assault. In Texas, you are legally allowed to use a reasonable amount of force in order to defend yourself and others from imminent danger. There’s nothing wrong with protecting yourself when someone tries to hurt you. Do what you can to gather evidence that supports self-defense.
- Defense of property. Texas has very clear stand your ground laws that give home and property owners the right to use force to defend their property from trespassers and invaders. Force may be justified in cases where you were protecting your home or vehicle from potential theft or unlawful entry.
- Lack of intent. To secure a conviction, prosecutors need to prove your guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, and that’s not easy to accomplish. A significant element of guilt is intent. They have to prove that you intentionally assaulted someone with full awareness of the consequences. However, your lawyer can argue that you never meant to hurt anyone and had no intention of committing assault. What happened may have been an accident. At the very least, this can introduce reasonable doubt into the case.
- Mistaken identity. It’s quite common for eyewitnesses to get faces mixed up. It’s possible that you were confused with someone else who actually committed the crime, and you have to do whatever you can to prove mistaken identity. The most reliable way to do this is to provide the prosecution with an airtight alibi that proves you were elsewhere at the time. This can be enough to get the charges dismissed entirely.
- False accusation. Regrettably, people make false accusations all the time in an effort to hurt someone’s reputation, destroy their sense of trust, or just to watch them suffer. If someone falsely accuses you of assault, you need to act quickly to get ahead of that accusation before it causes permanent reputational and social harm. Get a lawyer, gather evidence, and prove your innocence.
FAQs
What Qualifies as Assault in Texas?
In Texas, any action that intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly causes bodily injury to another person is considered assault. Additionally, the threat of bodily harm and offensive physical contact are also seen as forms of assault. Sometimes, you don’t even need physical contact to be charged with assault. If a weapon is used, the charge will likely be elevated to aggravated assault, which carries much harsher penalties.
Is It Hard to Pursue Legal Action Against Someone for Assault?
No, it’s not hard for someone to pursue legal action against you for assault. Pursuing a civil case is often easier than a criminal case, as the burden of proof is often lower. You may end up having to deal with a criminal case and a civil case for the same incident, which can be hard to handle on your own. Your lawyer can help you prepare for both, but you may end up having to pay damages to the victim.
How Much Is a Lawyer for an Assault Charge?
There’s no telling how much an assault lawyer may be in Texas. Every assault case is unique and has its own contributing factors that will influence the total cost to you. Those factors include the severity of the victim’s injuries, the evidence against you, the public nature of the case, if applicable, and your lawyer’s own resources available to them at the time. If your case goes to trial, it will cost much more than a plea bargain would.
Should I Hire an Assault Lawyer?
Yes, you should hire an assault lawyer. The last thing you want during your case is to go against a prosecuting attorney on your own with no legal support in your corner. You will probably lose your case. A lawyer’s help is invaluable during a criminal case. They can anticipate setbacks, prepare you for the worst, and keep your interests protected the entire time. Without a defense lawyer, you may not have a fair chance.
Hire an Assault Lawyer Today
If you are facing assault charges and the harsh penalties that come with a potential conviction, you need to hire an assault lawyer to take control of your case. The right lawyer’s help can often mean the difference between success and failure.
Tad A. Nelson has spent decades helping his clients face significant hardships. He knows the most efficient ways to prepare your defense, and he’s even been recognized by Super Lawyers. He can bring experience and devotion to your case. Keep in mind that recognition is not a guarantee of future results; selection criteria vary by organization.
At The Law Offices of Tad Nelson & Associates, we are fully prepared to help you navigate this difficult situation. We can help you develop a strong defense strategy, build a case reliant on evidence, advocate for you in court if it comes to that, and protect you publicly.Contact us to speak to someone on our team who can provide you with guidance and determine the right course for your case.