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Serious Felony Defense

Assault & Battery Defense

Charged with assault or battery? These violent crime allegations carry severe penalties and require aggressive defense to protect your freedom.

Types of Assault Charges in Georgia

Simple Assault

Misdemeanor

Attempting to cause violent injury to another person or placing someone in reasonable fear of receiving violent injury.

POTENTIAL PENALTIES:

  • Up to 12 months in jail
  • $1,000 fine
  • Probation
  • Anger management classes

COMMON EXAMPLES:

Threatening to hit someone, swinging at someone and missing, verbal threats with physical gestures

Simple Battery

Misdemeanor

Intentionally making physical contact of an insulting or provoking nature with another person, or intentionally causing physical harm.

POTENTIAL PENALTIES:

  • Up to 12 months in jail
  • $1,000 fine
  • Probation
  • Restitution to victim

COMMON EXAMPLES:

Pushing, slapping, punching someone without causing serious injury

Aggravated Assault

Felony

Assault with intent to murder, rape, or rob; assault with a deadly weapon or object that can cause serious injury; shooting at another person.

POTENTIAL PENALTIES:

  • 1-20 years in prison
  • Mandatory minimums for certain circumstances
  • Permanent felony record
  • Loss of rights

COMMON EXAMPLES:

Assault with a gun, knife, or baseball bat; strangulation; assault causing serious injury

Aggravated Battery

Felony

Intentionally causing serious bodily harm by depriving a body part or rendering it useless, or causing serious disfigurement.

POTENTIAL PENALTIES:

  • 1-20 years in prison
  • Mandatory minimum 3 years if involving knife
  • Restitution
  • Permanent record

COMMON EXAMPLES:

Breaking bones, causing loss of limb function, serious cuts requiring extensive medical treatment

Domestic Violence

Can be Misdemeanor or Felony

Assault or battery against a household member, including current or former spouses, parents of children in common, or individuals living together.

POTENTIAL PENALTIES:

  • Protective orders
  • Firearm restrictions
  • Mandatory batterer intervention programs
  • Enhanced penalties for repeat offenses

COMMON EXAMPLES:

Any assault or battery against family or household members

How We Defend Assault Cases

Self-Defense

Georgia law allows you to defend yourself if you reasonably believe you're in imminent danger of unlawful force. We establish that your actions were justified to protect yourself or others from harm.

Defense of Others

You have the right to defend another person who is being unlawfully attacked. We prove you reasonably believed intervention was necessary to protect someone else from harm.

Defense of Property

Georgia recognizes the right to defend your property under certain circumstances. We demonstrate your actions were reasonable and lawful in protecting your home or belongings.

Lack of Intent

Assault and battery require intentional actions. If contact was accidental or unintentional, we establish the absence of criminal intent necessary for conviction.

False Accusations

Unfortunately, assault charges are sometimes fabricated due to anger, revenge, or custody disputes. We investigate the accuser's credibility and motivations to expose false claims.

Insufficient Evidence

The prosecution must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. We challenge weak evidence, conflicting witness statements, and lack of physical evidence to create reasonable doubt.

Mutual Combat

When both parties willingly engage in a fight, this can affect culpability. We present evidence of mutual aggression to reduce charges or achieve more favorable outcomes.

Negotiation for Reduced Charges

When appropriate, we negotiate with prosecutors to reduce felony charges to misdemeanors or seek alternative sentencing options to avoid prison time.

Beyond Prison: Long-Term Consequences

A violent crime conviction creates lasting problems beyond incarceration:

Employment difficulties and background check failures
Loss of professional licenses (medical, legal, teaching, etc.)
Firearm ownership restrictions
Housing denials from landlords
Immigration consequences including deportation
Loss of voting rights (felonies)
Custody and visitation restrictions
Social stigma and damaged relationships

Common Questions

Can I claim self-defense if I started the fight?

Generally, you cannot claim self-defense if you were the initial aggressor. However, if you attempted to withdraw from the confrontation and the other person continued or escalated the attack, self-defense may still apply. Each case is fact-specific.

What if the alleged victim is lying?

False accusations occur more often than people realize, especially in domestic situations, custody disputes, or revenge scenarios. We thoroughly investigate the accuser's credibility, inconsistencies in their story, and any motivation to fabricate charges.

Can aggravated assault charges be reduced?

Yes, through negotiation or at trial, aggravated assault charges can sometimes be reduced to simple assault or battery. Success depends on the strength of the evidence, any valid defenses, and strategic negotiation with prosecutors.

Will I go to prison for a first-time assault?

Not necessarily. For misdemeanor simple assault or battery, many first-time offenders receive probation, fines, and counseling rather than jail time. Even some felony assault cases may result in probation for first-time offenders with strong mitigation.

How do assault charges affect gun rights?

Domestic violence misdemeanors and any felony conviction prohibit firearm possession under federal law. Even before conviction, protective orders can require surrendering firearms. Protecting your gun rights is another critical reason to fight these charges.

Aggressive Defense Against Violent Crime Charges

Thorough investigation of all evidence and witnesses
Experienced in self-defense and justification claims
Challenge false accusations and weak cases
Negotiate reduced charges when beneficial
Prepared for trial when necessary
Protect your rights, freedom, and future

Fight Back Against Assault Charges

Violent crime convictions destroy lives. Don't face these serious charges without experienced defense. Contact us now for a free consultation.

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