Fort Lauderdale Assault Defense Lawyer
How Assault Is Defined Under Florida Law – § 784.011
Per Florida law, “assault” refers to any intentional, unlawful threat of violence against another person, coupled with the apparent ability to carry out that threat. Additionally, the other party must be in reasonable fear that violence is imminent. Someone may be arrested for assault without ever physically touching another person.
This differs from the crime of battery, which involves actual physical contact. If you have been arrested for a violent crime, it is highly recommended that you secure the representation of a criminal defense lawyer as soon as possible.
Simple Assault vs. Aggravated Assault
In Florida, it is possible to be charged with varying degrees of assault. Depending on the nature of the offense, you may be charged with simple assault or aggravated assault.
- Simple assault is defined as any threat of violence that puts another person in fear of imminent harm, coupled with the apparent ability to carry out that threat. Under state law, this crime is classified as a second-degree misdemeanor.
- Aggravated assault is described as any assault that is carried out through the use of a deadly weapon (but without the intent to kill) or with the intent to commit a felony. This is a third-degree felony offense in Florida, which could result in prison time and hefty fines.
If you have been charged with either of these offenses, contact us at (954) 543-1788
Penalties for Simple Assault
- Up to 60 days in county jail
- Maximum of $500 in fines
- Restitution may be required
Penalties for Aggravated Assault
- Up to 5 years in state prison
- Maximum of $5,000 in fines
- Restitution may be required
Possible Defenses to Your Assault Charges
To convict you of assault, the prosecution must establish three important factors: you made a credible threat against another person, you had the ability to carry out this threat, and the other person was in reasonable fear that violence was imminent.
If any one of these factors does not exist, you cannot be found guilty of assault. As a result, several different legal defenses may be available to you.
Common defenses to assault charges include the following:
- You did not intend to harm the other person
- You were acting in your own self-defense
- You were acting in someone else’s defense
- You did not have means to carry out the threat
- You did not actually threaten another person
Why Choose Rudenberg and Glasser
If you have been arrested for assault in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, your future is on the line. Not only could you be facing time behind bars and costly fines, but a criminal conviction would also leave a permanent mark on your record.
Fortunately, help is just a phone call away. The criminal attorneys at Rudenberg and Glasser, P.A. have helped thousands of clients throughout Dade, Broward and Palm Beach Counties.
As former public defenders, our lawyers know the Florida criminal justice system inside and out. We also make ourselves available to clients 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, so you can count on us to be there when you need us most.
Contact the team at Rudenberg and Glasser, P.A. today at (954) 543-1788 to schedule your free case evaluation. The sooner you act, the better it will be for your case.