Cumming Assault Attorney

Assault Charges in GA

Assault is a violent crime, referring to a threat or action which places another in immediate fear of injury or death. You do not have to actually make physical contact with someone or hurt them in order to be charged with this offense. When the assault is between family members or persons who live in the same household, it also becomes a domestic violence crime.

The penalties for assault include:

• Sentencing up to 1 year in prison
• Fines up to $1,000 ($5,000 in severe misdemeanor cases)

Zeliff | Watson have spent over a decade and a half actively fighting for the rights of those accused of assault. As members of the Georgia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, a dedicated assault defense lawyer from our firm is ready to quickly meet with you and begin work on your case. The punishments for assault crimes are severe and we want to provide a hard-hitting defense for the legal battle ahead.

Contact Zeliff | Watson today to start discussing your assault case. 

Aggravated Offenses in Georgia

Georgia law divides assault charges into two categories: simple assault and aggravated assault. Simple assault simply fits the legal definition of “assault” described above—the threat of harm (which does not necessarily have to cause actual physical harm). It is a misdemeanor. However, aggravated assault is a felony due to the factors that make assault worse (i.e. the aggravating factors).

Aggravated assault is threatening or taking action that causes someone to fear for their physical safety, but with certain other elements involved. Aggravating factors can include whether or not a person has a weapon during the assault, whether the attempt or threat of force was used to commit a serious crime, or if the victim of the assault was protected or especially vulnerable.

For example, choking a person would be considered simple assault, but would be aggravated by the following factors:

• If the perpetrator was carrying a weapon (even if unused)
• If the perpetrator was attempting to rob or rape the victim
• If the assault was an attempt to murder the victim
• If the assault took place on public transport
• If the victim was older than 65 (or pregnant)

However, remember that it's on the prosecutor to prove your intent, and a good assault defense attorney in Cumming can fight to insert reasonable doubt into a jury's deliberations. If your intent can't be proven beyond a reasonable doubt, then you could signficantly minimize the stakes of your charge.

The Penalties for Aggravated Assault in Georgia

As a felony, conviction for aggravated assault carries more penalties than a simple assault charge. Enhanced prison sentences, enhanced minimums, and higher fines are only the start of it. If the assault is committed during the commission of another crime (e.g. robbery of a commercial vehicle), you’re looking at 5 years in prison minimum and up to $200,000 in fines.

The penalties for aggravated assault are as follows:

• Up to 20 years in prison (1 minimum)
• Up to 20 years’ probation
• Up to $100,000 in fines
• Restitution to the victim

Georgia utilizes longer sentencing minimums for certain types of relationships between the victim and the perpetrator that is especially damaging—compelling the law to consider it a more serious crime. Aggravated assault of the elderly, the mentally disabled, and the otherwise incapacitated is more harshly condemned by the law. Aggravated assault of police officers or government officials also leads to longer minimums—between 3 and 10 years, depending on the victim.

Your Attorney's Experience Matters

As experienced Cumming criminal defense lawyers, we know that assault charges in GA can frequently be a case of a misunderstanding, a time when an argument quickly turns to unintended violence. Sometimes it can be proven that you were not actually involved in the incident or that no threat of violence took place. In certain instances, you may have been simply defending yourself from harm.

We work aggressively to locate and use any errors by law enforcement or prosecutors to get the charges against you dropped, reduced or for an acquittal if your case goes to trial.

To learn how assault charges in GA can be effectively defended, contact a Cumming assault attorney from our firm today.  

• Fulton County Superior and State Courts
• Atlanta Municipal Court
• Alpharetta Municipal Court
• Milton Municipal Court
• Johns Creek Municipal Court
• Sandy Springs Municipal Court
• Doraville Municipal Court (Dekalb County)
• Suwanee Municipal Court (Gwinnett County)