Facing criminal charges can be daunting, especially aggravated assault. While you may understand what assault is, the differences between simple and aggravated assault may be less clear. You know one is worse than the other but are unsure how.
According to Georgia law, simple assault occurs when someone attempts to violently injure another person or whose actions reasonably place another person in danger of immediate injury. An example of this could be a bar fight.
Aggravated assault involves many other factors. Some of these aggravating circumstances include:
- You allegedly committed the act with the intent to commit another violent crime like murder, rape or rob another person.
- You allegedly assaulted someone with an object or weapon that was likely to or actually caused another person harm.
- Firing a gun from a car toward another person.
Penalties differ with the seriousness of the charges
Both aggravated and simple assault are similar crimes, but the differences are significant. The consequences of aggravated assault are more severe than simple assault. If a court convicts someone of the crime, they could face between one to 20 years in prison. Contrastingly, simple assault is a misdemeanor crime.
While either charge requires a strong legal strategy, this is especially true of aggravated assault. A felony offense can affect your reputation and your ability to find work, housing or employment. With a good defense, you could face reduced penalties or have them eliminated altogether. Your freedom and future are reasons why you should seek a law firm you can trust.
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