Houston Assault Crimes Lawyer

Strategic Assault Crimes Attorney in Houston, TX

Assault and related crimes are considered violent crimes in Texas, and as such, the stakes are high: penalties in Texas for these crimes are among the most severe in the country. The State takes these matters very seriously and will enthusiastically pursue charges against you. In addition, society views these criminal activities very seriously and may penalize you before charges are formally brought against you. Friends and family may look at you differently. Co-workers may suddenly fear you and ostracize you because of the accusations. Your employer may find it necessary to terminate your employment. The social consequences of these types of crimes can be more painful than any kind of punishment delivered by a judge.

There may be a justification for your actions, though. Or, it may all be a misunderstanding. Or, the crime may have been committed out of passion, i.e., you reacted before you had the chance to think about it. Whatever it is, society doesn't necessarily care—not immediately at least. It just knows you were arrested for a violent crime, for instance, a crime like:

• Assault
• Aggravated Assault
• Unlawful Restraint
• Kidnapping
• Injury to a Child, Elderly Individual, or Disabled Person
• Deadly Conduct
• Terroristic Threats
• Domestic Violence

Your only way out of it is proving yourself innocent or justifying your actions. In other words, you need to fight the charge. In fact, it's your only way to avoid any kind of short- and long-term punishment.

Doug Murphy, a Board Certified criminal defense attorney in Houston, Texas, has extensive experience representing clients charged with assault and other related or violent crimes. He believes strongly that each and every client deserves a strong defense. He believes that the prosecutor, judge, and/or jury should be held accountable to the principle that you are innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. And as such, he believes in strategizing the best criminal defense for your specific case and challenging the State each step of the way until either your case is dismissed or you are acquitted.

To better understand how Doug Murphy and his legal team can help you, contact his office today.

Texas Assault & Related Crimes

Assault crimes and related crimes are unlawful actions that may include some kind of force or threat of force against one or more persons. When a deadly weapon is involved, the crime can be aggravated. Here are summaries of assault crimes and other related crimes in Texas.

Assault

The crime of assault can be charged as either a misdemeanor or felony, depending on the circumstances and facts of the case. The crime involves one person causing bodily injury or threatening to cause immediate bodily injury (without actually causing it) to another person.

Aggravated Assault

The crime of aggravated assault is the same as assault except for the fact a gun or other deadly weapon was involved. Depending on the facts of the case, aggravated assault is charged as a second-degree or first-degree felony offense.

Unlawful Restraint

Unlawful restraint is a crime when a person intentionally or knowingly restrains another person. This crime's classification can range from a class A misdemeanor to a second-degree felony offense, depending on the facts and circumstances.

Kidnapping

Kidnapping occurs when a person intentionally or knowingly controls and forces another person to move to another location against that person's will. If a deadly weapon is used, then it is aggravated kidnapping, which results in harsher penalties if convicted of the same. Depending on the facts and circumstances, therefore, kidnapping can be charged as either a misdemeanor or a felony.

Injury to a Child, Elderly Individual, or Disabled Person

Injury to a child, elderly, or disabled person is an offense where a person intentionally, knowingly, recklessly, or with criminal negligence—either by an act or by an omission—causes bodily injury, serious bodily injury, or serious mental deficiency to a person in one of the stated categories (i.e., children, seniors, disabled persons). This offense is always a felony ranging from a state jail felony to a felony in the first degree, depending on the facts of the case.

Deadly Conduct

Deadly conduct is an offense that occurs when a person either (1) recklessly engages in conduct that places another in imminent danger of serious bodily injury; or (2) knowingly discharges a firearm at or in the direction of one or more individuals or a habitation, building, or vehicle and is reckless as to whether the habitation, building, or vehicle is occupied. This offense can be charged as either a class A misdemeanor or third-degree felony.

Terroristic Threats

Terroristic threat is an offense in Texas that can materialize in a number of ways. This offense allegedly occurs when a person threatens to commit violence against a person or property with the intent to:

• Cause an official agency to react;
• Place a person or the public in fear of imminent serious bodily injury;
• Prevent the occupation of a building or room;
• Cause interruptions in public communications or transport; or
• Influence governmental activities.

This offense can be charged as a class B or A misdemeanor, a state jail felony, or a third-degree felony, depending on the circumstances and facts of the case.

Domestic Violence

Domestic violence crimes are those crimes committed against a family member, an intimate partner (former or current), or a member of the household. Domestic violence is not a specific offense but is an enhancement to an assault crime, which means if convicted of a domestic violence crime, the sentencing can be harsher than if the offense did not involve domestic violence.

Potential Punishment for Assault and Assault-Related Crimes

Punishment is determined by the classification of the crime. Below is a table of the possible punishment you could face based on these classifications

Contact Our Houston, Texas Assault Charges Attorney

If you have been charged with an assault or assault-related crime, contact Doug Murphy today. As a seasoned, Board Certified criminal defense attorney, Doug Murphy will thoroughly review your case and advise you of your options. His first and primary goal is making sure you receive the best defense possible for the best outcome possible in your unique situation.

Doug Murphy believes each and every client deserves a strong defense. Contact his office either online or at 713-229-8333 and learn why he is one of Houston's best criminal defense attorneys.