New Jersey Aggravated Assault Attorneys
Aggravated assault is a serious charge in New Jersey, and a conviction can result in a sentence of up to 10 years in prison. Any person convicted of aggravated assault must serve 85% of their sentence before becoming eligible for parole. If you’ve been arrested and charged with aggravated assault, an experienced New Jersey aggravated assault lawyer from the Law Offices of Jeffrey S. Hasson, P.C. may be able to get the charges dismissed or reduced to simple assault, which carries lower penalties.
What is the Difference Between Simple & Aggravated Assault?
An assault is considered “aggravated” (rather than “simple”) based on a variety of factors such as the seriousness of the victim’s injury, the identity of the victim, and whether a deadly weapon was used. For example, an assault against a police officer would be classified as “aggravated.” The same goes assaults committed against certain school employees or against a firefighter, emergency responder, or judge. Deadly weapons include guns, knives, and motor vehicles.
Aggravated Assault can be a 2nd to 4th degree crime depending on additional factors such as whether the injury occurred while fleeing a law enforcement officer or as a result of purposely starting a fire or causing an explosion. It’s important to note that resisting an illegal arrest is NOT a valid defense to a charge of aggravated assault on a police officer.
Penalties for Aggravated Assault
In addition to jail time, penalties can include fines, restitution to the victim, loss of the right to own a firearm, electronic monitoring, and mandatory anger management classes. Any criminal conviction can limit employment and housing opportunities.
A defendant may be able to avoid a conviction by proving that both parties agreed to fight, or that the assault was committed in self-defense. However, even if the parties agreed to fight, the accused can’t continue to hurt another party who is backing off or defenseless; “you can’t kick a man when he’s down.” And the degree of force used in self-defense must be proportional; “you can’t bring a gun to a knife fight,” and you can’t continue to attack someone who has stopped attacking you.
Contact Our Highly Skilled Aggravated Assault Lawyers in New Jersey
If you’ve been charged with aggravated assault, an experienced aggravated New Jersey assault attorney from the Law Offices of Jeffrey S. Hasson, P.C. can explain your rights and options. Contact Us Today to get started on your case
Contact us or call today to discuss the options available to you at this time. We have offices conveniently located in Teaneck and Union City and serve all of New Jersey for criminal defense needs.