St. Louis assault attorney

Assault convictions carry serious penalties. Assaulting another person can lead to serious charges and a criminal conviction that will haunt you for years.

If you have been accused of assault, reach out to the lawyers with JCS Law. Your St. Louis assault attorney has the tools to dispute the charges you’re facing and potentially avoid a criminal conviction that can impact your life in severe ways.

What is considered assault in Missouri?

In Missouri, you may be charged with assault if you are accused of inflicting or intending to inflict harm on another person. That includes touching someone in an intentionally threatening or provocative way, causing physical injury, or fear of physical harm. Even threats of violence can lead to serious penalties if you are accused of assault.

Aggravating factors may also impact accusations of assault. These factors, such as using a deadly weapon or accusations that you committed this offense in the presence of a minor, may worsen the severity of the penalties you may face. Because of this, you may need to speak with an attorney as soon as possible about your claim.

Knowing vs. reckless vs. criminal negligence

Typically, if you are accused of recklessness, your penalties may be more severe. Recklessness charges mean you are accused of knowing you were endangering others and continued to be careless anyway. Simple negligence indicates you were careless with the safety of others but may not have been as aware of the danger you were causing.

If you are seeking to reduce your charges, proving you were not acting recklessly is vital to reducing your charges. Talk to your assault lawyer St Louis about your best defense against accusations of recklessness.

Deadly weapons and dangerous instruments

If you are accused of having a deadly weapon or dangerous weapon at the time of the assault, it can worsen your charges. This factor can impact the severity of your charges and bump your charges from misdemeanor to felony charges.

Deadly weapons can include many types of implements. That includes guns, knives, blunt instruments, and other tools that are brandished or used in a way for bodily harm. Even the threat of injury with a dangerous instrument can lead to more severe charges, so talk to your criminal defense attorney in St. Louis about your options to dismiss these aggravating factors and avoid more severe charges.

Serious physical injury and physical injury

When an assault happens, the victim may suffer physical injury or serious physical injury. These terms decide how serious the felony charges you may face will be.

For a first-degree assault charge, the prosecution must prove you caused serious physical injury. That means the injuries caused injuries that will create lifelong problems. That includes injuries like a loss of function of a limb or the entire loss of a limb.

Special victims

If you have been accused of sexual assault, your case may be handled differently than other types of assault. In sexual assault cases, the victim of the crime you are accused of may be referred to as a special victim.

This term is used because sexual assault cases must be handled with different types of evidence and support for the victim. Because of this, you may need to speak with your assault and battery lawyer in St. Louis, MO about how this designation and this charge can impact your future.

Types of assault in Missouri

Assault is a complex charge that can include many actions, all leading to the threat of harm or actual harm to another person. Any of these charges can be serious and lead to major charges, so speak with a lawyer even if you do not think your charges are that severe.

Below are the types of assault you may have been accused of that our St. Louis violent crime lawyer can help defend you against:

• Verbal assault
• Simple assault
• Aggravated assault 
• Sexual assault

Difference between assault charges and battery charges

Often, when we hear about assault charges, we see it referred to as “assault and battery,” which are two separate charges. But what is the difference?

The difference is that battery exclusively refers to the physical harm caused to another person, while assault refers to the threat of harm and types of assault that are not necessarily physical.

Penalties and consequences of violent assault convictions

The severity of the charges you are facing will determine how serious the penalties you face will be. The more serious the crime, the worse your penalties will be.

For example, if you are facing third-degree assault charges, you may be charged with a Class D or E felony, depending on the details of your charges. First-degree assault, however, will net a Class A or B felony charge.

Unsure about your charges? Your assault lawyer in St. Louis can guide you through the charges and help you fight back.

Even after you have completed your sentence, the penalties may not end. Having a criminal record may bar you from certain experiences. For example, if a potential employer or landlord sees a criminal conviction on your background check, you may be barred from certain jobs or living situations. Because of this, it is better to reduce or dismiss your charges rather than accept the charges.

How a St. Louis assault attorney can help

When you are accused of violent assault, you need someone who understands these charges and the best defenses for them. Taking the wrong approach can lead to severe penalties and hurt your ability to avoid the charges.

An assault attorney in St. Louis can help you using their experience and resources. They have access to expert testimony, for example, to help you dispute any claims that you were committing a crime. They can also help you access other evidence, such as video footage of when the incident allegedly took place and other resources.

Your lawyer will also represent you in the courtroom, ensuring you get the support you need during your trial.

Defense strategies for a violent assault case

When trying to pin assault charges on you, the prosecution must prove certain elements of the crime to take action. Acting now to gather evidence that disproves these elements is vital.

First, the prosecution must prove you acted in a way that showed intent to harm or committed actual harm. They must show you intended to harm the victim. Then, the prosecution must show that the contact was harmful or offensive and that the victim suffered because of that contact.

When you are facing violent assault charges, you need a specific approach to your defense. Determining the best options for your defense can help you know where to look for evidence and what types of evidence you need. Your lawyer can help you determine your best approach.

Below are a few of the defense strategies we may use when approaching a St. Louis violent assault case:

• Defense of property
• Self-defense
• Defense of others
• Lack of mental state
• Acting under duress

Why you can trust JCS Law

When seeking out an assault attorney, you have plenty of options for your defense. Many lawyers in the St Louis area could help you with your claim.

So what makes JCS law stand out? Our determination to get our client’s charges reduced or dismissed completely is our most important quality. We will always give our clients our full attention and best efforts to reduce or dismiss their charges as much as possible.

We also offer years of experience and the tools we have gathered in that time. We understand how much evidence and testimony it can take to overcome criminal charges, and we can help you gather everything you need to fight back against the charges you are facing.

Contact our St. Louis violent assault lawyers today

When you are accused of a violent assault, your future may be on the line. You may have difficulties avoiding a conviction on your own, which can impact your future. Fortunately, you do not have to accept the charges and complete your sentence without help.

At JCS Law, we are prepared to do whatever it takes to get your charges dropped or reduced by whatever means possible. We have the tools you need to fight the prosecution’s evidence against you and take action. When you need representation in the courtroom, we are ready to tackle your case.

Ready to learn more about our criminal defense services? Reach out for a confidential consultation by calling (314) 561-9690 or completing the online contact form.