Aggressive Defense of Your Rights When You Are Facing Assault Charges in Tennessee

Experienced Nashville attorney on your side

A man pushes you as you leave a bar and you push back; he trips, falls, and breaks his arm. Or you get into an altercation in front of a local coffee shop and, in frustration, throw your cup on the ground; it splatters hot coffee everywhere and a passerby is burned. Or a woman threatens you with what looks like a gun, and you rush her to bring to the ground; turns out she was not holding a weapon at all. Or you and your significant other or spouse have a fight; no one is physically harmed, but threatening comments are made in the heat of the moment.

All these instances can lead to an assault charge. Assault charges can be complicated; at the Law Office of Perry A. Craft, PLLC, we make sure that you understand exactly which charges have been leveled against you, and what your chances are at having them dropped entirely or what the likely outcome will be. Attorney Craft is an experienced criminal defense lawyer who puts his decades of experience to work for you, fighting on your behalf and vigorously defending your rights in court.

Assault vs. aggravated assault

According to the Tennessee statute for assault:

“A person commits assault who:

  1. Intentionally, knowingly or recklessly causes bodily injury to another;
  2. Intentionally or knowingly causes another to reasonably fear imminent bodily injury; or
  3. Intentionally or knowingly causes physical contact with another and a reasonable person would regard the contact as extremely offensive or provocative.”

Aggravated assault, however, is slightly different:

“A person commits aggravated assault who:

  1. Intentionally or knowingly commits an assault as defined in § 39-13-101 and:
    1. Causes serious bodily injury to another; or
    2. Uses or displays a deadly weapon; or
  2. Recklessly commits an assault as defined in § 39-13-101(a)(1), and:
    1. Causes serious bodily injury to another; or
    2. Uses or displays a deadly weapon.”

You can be charged with aggravated assault if you fail to protect your child from harm by another person, if you are believed to have violated a restraining order to cause another person harm, or if you are accused of attacking a public employee.

Assault is a Class A misdemeanor in the most basic of scenarios, but a few facts can change the charge and can increase the fines and penalties you face. Aggravated assault can range from a Class A Misdemeanor to a Class C felony, meaning you face jail or prison time as well as increasingly large fines if you are found guilty.

Choosing the right Nashville criminal defense lawyer

At the Law Office of Perry A. Craft, PLLC, you work with an experienced legal team from the very first day. Attorney Craft has successfully represented people facing charges of:

  • Simple assault
  • Aggravated assault
  • Domestic violence
  • Assault with a deadly weapon
  • Assault and battery
  • Threats

Though our ultimate goal is always an outright dismissal of the charges against our clients, we know that sometimes dismissal is not possible. In those cases, we use our skills and experience to negotiate for lesser charges and fines. Should negotiations fail, you can rely on Attorney Craft to build an aggressive defense strategy to protect your rights and your future in a jury trial. If you have been arrested for assault in Nashville or throughout Tennessee, you can call us day or night, during the week or on the weekend.  We strive to answer questions and will schedule a meeting to discuss your options.

Do not face assault charges alone

At the Law Office of Perry A. Craft PLLC, we work hard to resolve your legal problems. When time is of the essence, you can rely on us to help protect you. If you are facing assault charges in Nashville or throughout Tennessee, please call 615-953-3808 or fill out our convenient contact form. You do not have to go through this alone.