{"id":3394,"date":"2023-12-05T05:36:47","date_gmt":"2023-12-05T05:36:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blackslawgroup.com\/?page_id=3394"},"modified":"2024-02-22T21:51:47","modified_gmt":"2024-02-23T02:51:47","slug":"assault","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/blackslawgroup.com\/ct-criminal-defense-lawyer\/violent-crimes\/assault\/","title":{"rendered":"Assault"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Shootings. Stabbings. Barfights. Each of these types of incidents are a form of fighting and often result in people being charged with committing an Assault. Simply put, if you have been charged with some form of Assault, it means that the State believes that you have committed some act of violence towards another person.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Whether you or a loved one are in the crosshairs of the criminal justice system, you are likely afraid and concerned about what might happen. That\u2019s where Black\u2019s Law Group comes in. Our team of dedicated attorneys are a phone call away and prepared to answer your questions. Until then, you can read through the rest of this post to learn some of the basics of assault cases in Connecticut.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are various types of Assault charges in Connecticut. However, at their most basic level, Assaults are instances where one person acts in some form of violent capacity towards another person.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In Connecticut, there are three different \u201cdegrees\u201d of Assault charges. Whereas Assault in the First Degree is the \u201cmost\u201d serious, Assault in the Third Degree is the \u201cleast\u201d serious. This is not to say that Assault in the Third Degree charges are not serious: they are. However, each degree of Assault charge carries with it a differing criminal classification.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Assault in the First Degree<\/a> applies to 5 types of circumstances. Specifically, a person is guilty of this charge when:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Each of these versions of Assault in the First Degree are classified as a class B felony. In Connecticut, class B felonies carry up to 20 years of imprisonment. Additionally, if you are convicted under the \u201cdeadly weapon, dangerous instrument\u201d subsection, you will face a 5-year mandatory minimum period of imprisonment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Finally, depending on \u201cwho\u201d the victim is, you could be facing a 10-year mandatory minimum period of imprisonment. The aggravating circumstances where this mandatory minimum would apply are reserved for situations where either the victim is a witness (and you knew they were a witness), as well as situations where the victim is 10-years old or younger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Assault in the Second Degree is a class D felony, however, if the victim sustained \u201cserious physical injury,\u201d then the charge becomes a class C felony. A class D felony carries up to 5 years of imprisonment, whereas a class C felony carries up to 10 years of imprisonment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Assault in the Third Degree<\/a> applies to 3 types of circumstances. A person is guilty of Assault in the Third Degree when:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Assault in the Third Degree is a class A misdemeanors, which means that it carries up to 364 days of imprisonment (1 day less than a year). However, if you are convicted under the \u201cdeadly weapon, dangerous instrument\u201d subsection, you will face a 1-year mandatory minimum (365 days of imprisonment).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Yes, there are the \u201cstandard\u201d Assault charges, but there are also more specific types of Assault charges tied to special types of victims. For example, if the victim is an elderly, blind, disabled, or pregnant person, you may face one of these more specialized Assault charges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you commit an Assault in the First Degree, and the victim is pregnant, and because of the Assault, the baby dies, you will face a class A felony charge<\/a>. The most common class A felony charge is murder. Yes, under this specialized Assault statute, you face a charge equivalent to murder. Importantly, for this charge to apply, the State must prove that the defendant knew that the victim was pregnant at the time that they committed the Assault.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you are imprisoned and commit an Assault, where the victim is a member of the Department of Corrections<\/a>, you will face a class B felony charge. Importantly, if this happens, any sentence that the Court imposes is require by law to run consecutively to your current period of imprisonment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are also specialized Assault statutes that apply to elderly, blind, or disabled persons, which are similarly structured as first<\/a>, second<\/a>, and third<\/a> degree offenses. The key difference between these charges and regular Assault charges is that committing an Assault against one of these victims will include varying degrees of mandatory minimum periods of imprisonment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Every case is unique and defenses are always specific to the facts of a given case. An experienced attorney will always tailor their defense strategy to the particulars of your case. In some circumstances, you may be pursuing a complete defense to the charge. In other cases, you may be defending your case based on a mitigation strategy that yes, there was a crime, but not the one that the State has charged. Here are a few of the ways that a seasoned defense attorney will defend you in Assault cases:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
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Assault in the Second Degree<\/h2><\/div>\n\n\n\n
Assault in the Second Degree<\/a> also applies to 5 types of circumstances. A person is guilty of Assault in the Second Degree when<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
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Assault in the Third Degree<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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\u201cSpecial Victim\u201d Assault Charges<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
What are some common defenses to Assault charges?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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