Felony assault is one of the more serious charges that can be filed against an individual. But the term "assault" is a little broad in terms of the types of charges that can be filed. It can further be defined into two loose categories:
- Battery
- Aggravated Assault
Battery is defined as a destructive act of aggressive damage, done for the purpose of causing some form of harm to another party. For instance, throwing something at another person with the intention of hitting them can be considered battery as long as the object actually hits him or her. If the item misses, it is still considered assault, but battery charges will not be able to accompany those charges.
Conversely, aggravated assault is defined as the use of force in the attempt to do harm to another individual, often with the use of a deadly weapon. For instance, aggravated assault charges can be raised if:
- A weapon is used to cause serious harm
- Bodily harm is caused through one party recklessly handling a motor vehicle
- The intentional causing of serious bodily harm to another individual.
Of course, these are just a few of the "Aggravated Assault" situations that have potential for such charges.
If you or a loved one has been arrested for assault or battery, it is imperative that you discuss your situation with a criminal defense attorney. Our office is located near the Southwest Justice Center in Murrieta, California. We represent individuals charged with Assault, Criminal Offenses, DUI and Juvenile Matters in the Temecula, Murrieta, Lake Elsinore, Hemet, Corona and Riverside areas