Assault

Assault charges in Washington state are very serious and carry significant legal penalties that can impact your life permanently. Whether it's assault in the first degree or domestic violence, the consequences of a conviction can be devastating.

The damage doesn't stop there with the immediate legal consequences. An assault conviction severely affects your reputation in Everett, making it harder to secure a job, find housing, and maintain relationships with an assault on your record. The negative impact can follow you for the rest of your life.

While the penalties for this criminal act are steep, there are options. With over 20 years of defending people just like you against assault charges, our Everett defense attorneys know what to do. We'll challenge the evidence, present your side in court, and secure a possible positive outcome. Do not face assault charges alone. Call our Everett defense attorneys specializing in assault now for a free case review.

Types Of Assault Cases We Handle

In over 20 years, we've successfully defended every type of assault charge. We can challenge the following in Snohomish County Court:

• First-Degree Assault
• Second-Degree Assault
• Third-Degree Assault
• Fourth-Degree Assault
• Domestic Violence Assault
• Assault of a Law Enforcement Officer
• Aggravated Assault
• Sexual Assault (Sexual Assault/ Rape)

No matter the assault charges you face, we have a powerful defense. Call our knowledgeable Everett defense lawyers now.

Why You Need Legal Defense Against Assault Charges

In Washington state, an assault conviction has severe legal, social, and personal consequences. Assault is a violent crime, and even a conviction for a lesser offense, like assault in the fourth degree, has significant penalties like jail time. Further, a conviction can result in job loss, difficulties finding future employment, and restrictions on professional licenses.

The social and personal toll of an assault charge can be just as devastating as the legal consequences. Family members, friends, and colleagues may view you differently, especially if the charge involves domestic violence or sexual assault. Your relationships may suffer and you may lose custody of your children or face protective orders in some cases. Even if you're acquitted or the Courts reduce the charges, the stigma of having been involved in an assault case can follow you long after the legal process is over.

What Are Some Legal Defense Strategies Against Assault Charges?

Several effective legal defense strategies can be used to challenge assault charges in Washington state. Depending on the circumstances of your case, we'll build a defense to reduce or dismiss the charges against you. Here are some strategies our lawyers will explore:

• Self-Defense: If you were acting in self-defense, meaning you used reasonable force to protect yourself from an immediate threat, this can be a strong defense. To successfully argue self-defense, the force used must be proportionate to the threat, and the person claiming self-defense must have been in imminent danger.
• Defense Of Others: You may also claim that you were defending another person from an imminent threat of harm. Similar to self-defense, the force used must be reasonable under the circumstances.
• Lack Of Intent: For the court to convict you of assault, the prosecution must prove intent to harm or injure another person. If you can show that your actions were accidental or that you didn't intend to cause harm, this may weaken the prosecution's case.
• False Allegations: In some cases, assault charges in Everett arise from false accusations. If your Everett assault defense attorney can prove that the alleged victim is lying or misrepresenting the facts, this can be a strong defense. We may point out inconsistencies in their story or present evidence that contradicts their claims.
• Lack of Evidence: If the Snohomish prosecution cannot present sufficient evidence to prove you committed the assault, the charges may be dropped or reduced. We may challenge the credibility of witnesses, question the validity of physical evidence, or show that there is insufficient proof to meet the standard of beyond a reasonable doubt.
• Mistaken Identity: If law enforcement wrongly identifies you as the person who committed the assault, we will challenge the charges. Mistaken identity is when there is a lack of clear evidence or uncertain witnesses.
• Duress Or Coercion: In certain situations, you may have been forced to commit the assault under threat of harm. Duress or coercion can be used as a defense if you can show that you acted against your will due to an immediate threat of harm.
• Mental Health Defense: In some cases, a defendant may argue that they were not mentally competent at the time of the assault. We use this defense in cases involving mental illness or disorders that impair the person's ability to understand the nature of their actions.
• Provocation: If the alleged victim provoked the situation and you were responding to their aggressive behavior, we may be able to reduce the severity of the charge. However, provocation alone does not justify assault, and the force used must be reasonable under the circumstances.

Each assault case is unique, and the defense strategy our Everett attorneys use depends on the specifics of the incident.

Strong Assault Defense From Everett's Criminal Defense Attorneys

As locals of Everett, we love our town. From spending a day at Legion Park along the Snohomish River to exploring the trails at Silver Lake Park, we love going around Everett. Whether we're attending events like the Everett Farmers Market, enjoying a concert at Xfinity Arena, or spending the day at Jetty Island, there's always something to do around town. Our community thrives with local gems like The Everett Mall, Historic Everett Theatre, and the bustling streets of Downtown Everett, and we're proud to be part of it. Our local knowledge extends to the Snohomish County Courts, where we defend our Everett neighbors.

We believe that every assault charge can be successfully challenged in Snohomish County Courts. With years of practice in Everett's courts, we understand how to challenge the evidence, discredit witnesses, and negotiate with prosecutors to get a possible positive outcome for you. Our aggressive and experienced Bellevue criminal defense attorneys will fight tirelessly to defend your rights and build the strongest case possible to keep you out of jail. Call our law offices in Everett now to get started.

An assault charge can come in one of four degrees, with "first degree" being the most serious and "fourth degree" being the least. Whether you are being charged with first or fourth degree assault, it is extremely important you take the charges seriously. A criminal conviction of violence will cause you serious problems in the future, whether it be with getting a job or finding a place to live.

First degree assault through third degree assauts are felonies. First degree assault in a class A felony which means the maximum penalty is potentially up to life in prison and a $50,000 fine. Second degree assault is a class B felony which means the maximum penalty is 10 years in prison and a $20,000 fine. Finally, third degree assault is a class C felony which means the maximum penalty is five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

Fourth degree assault, instead is a gross misdemeanor, which means the maximum penalty is 364 days in jail and a $5,000 fine. A conviction will also often come with probation, a no contact order, and maybe court ordered classes.

Whether you get charged with first degree or fourth assault depends on the facts of your case. This includes whether weapons were involved, whether there were serious injuries (or the potential for serious injuries), who the victim was, along with the intent.