Understanding Texas Assaultive Offenses

When you are facing assault charges in Galveston or League City, it can be difficult to understand what type of assaultive offense you have been accused of specifically since Texas law has a wide variety of crimes that fall into this category. It is important to know that these offenses can be charged as misdemeanor or felony offenses, depending upon the specific crime and the particular facts surrounding your arrest. Our Galveston and League city criminal defense lawyers want to provide you with more information about the various types of assaultive offenses for which a person can face charges under the Texas Penal Code.

Assault

Assault involves intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly causing bodily injury to someone, or intentionally or knowingly threatening imminent bodily injury.

Aggravated Assault

Aggravated assault can be charged when someone causes serious bodily injury to another person or commits an assault with a deadly weapon.

Indecent Assault

Indecent assault is a relatively new type of criminal offense under the Texas Penal Code, and it is usually charged for groping or unwanted touching similar to groping.

Sexual Assault

Sexual assault can be charged when a person intentionally or knowingly penetrates another person without that person’s consent.

Aggravated Sexual Assault

Aggravated sexual assault is a more serious offense than sexual assault alone, and it can be charged when a person commits sexual assault and causes seriously bodily injury, kidnaps a person to commit the sexual assault, or uses a deadly weapon or a date rape drug while committing the sexual assault.

Injury to a Child, Elderly Individual, or Disabled Individual

Assaulting a child, elderly person, or disabled person and causing bodily injury can result in this more serious assault charge.

Abandoning or Endangering a Child

If you abandon a child under the age of 15 and that child does not have sufficient care, you could be charged with abandoning or endangering a child. While this might not seem like assault, it is a type of assaultive offense under the Texas Penal Code.

Deadly Conduct

You can be charged with deadly conduct if you recklessly put another person in imminent danger of serious bodily injury, typically by discharging a firearm.

Terroristic Threat

Threatening to commit violence to a person or to property in specific ways ultimately may result in terroristic threat charges, which may be charged as a Class A misdemeanor or a state jail felony.

Aiding Suicide

It is unlawful to aid another person in committing suicide, or to attempt to aid another person in committing suicide, even if that person has a terminal illness. It is an assaultive offense under the Texas Penal Code.

Tampering with a Consumer Product

If you tamper with a consumer product with the knowledge it is likely to cause serious bodily injury, you can face charges for the assaultive offense of tampering with a consumer product.

Leaving a Child in a Vehicle

Anyone who intentionally or knowingly leaves a child in a motor vehicle for more than 5 minutes when the child is under the age of 7 and is not in the care of another person who is at least 13 years old can face charges for an assaultive offense.

Harassment of a Public Servant

Depending upon the circumstances, a person may face charges for an assaulting offense for intentionally harassing or alarming a public servant.

Contact a Galveston and League City Assault Defense Lawyer

If you are facing any type of assault charges under the Texas Penal Code, our Galveston and League City assault defense attorneys can assist you. Contact The Law Offices of Tad Nelson & Associates today for more information.