In Arizona, when you are charged with felony assault, your freedom and your financial future are at risk. If you have been charged with felony assault, it is important that you understand the potential jail time and fines associated with the charge. If convicted, a felony assault charge can have a lifelong, negative impact on your future, so it is very important for you to retain an experienced, aggressive defense attorney to fight for your rights.
At the The Hamp Law Offices, our attorneys understand the seriousness of a felony assault charge. We will thoroughly review your unique case so that we can build the strongest defense. You are not guilty until proven so beyond a reasonable doubt, and the attorneys at The Hamp Law Offices will hold the judge and jury to this standard.
What is Felony Assault?
Arizona law defines assault as “intentionally, knowingly or recklessly causing any physical injury to another person; or intentionally placing another person in reasonable apprehension of imminent physical injury."
Felony assault is called Aggravated Assault in Arizona statutes, and certain things must happen during the assault for it to be a felony. This includes crimes where:
- The assault causes serious physical injury, fracture, or disfigurement.
- A deadly weapon is used.
- The victim is bound or physically restrained during the assault.
- The assault occurs in the victim's personal residence.
- The victim is a police officer, firefighter, prison guard, teacher, health care practitioner, park ranger, prosecutor, or public defender.
Definitions
Understanding a felony assault charge requires understanding the definitions of "intentionally," "knowingly," and "recklessly" since these are factors of the crime.
- A person "intentionally" commits felony assault if they have the objective of causing serious physical injury or deliberately use a deadly weapon to commit the assault.
- A person "knowingly" commits felony assault if they believe or are aware that their actions may cause serious physical injury to another person.
- A person "recklessly" commits felony assault if they disregard the risk associated with their actions and those actions cause another person serious physical injury.
Prison Time
The amount of prison time for a felony assault charge depends on the specific circumstances of the incident. In most instances, felony assault is a Class 3 felony. The defendant may face 5 to 15 years in prison for a first offense, with a 7.5-year presumptive prison term. Subsequent offenses have stiffer sentencing guidelines, with a second offense carrying a 10- to 20-year prison sentence, and 15 to 25 years for a third offense.
Fines
In addition to prison time, the judge may require a person convicted of felony assault to pay fines. In Arizona, this can be up to $150,000.
Your Experienced Criminal Defense Team
Felony assault charges are serious and can have a lifelong, negative effect on your future. Your freedom is at risk, and you should not delay in contacting an experienced criminal defense attorney.
The Hamp Law Offices will aggressively fight for you with a strong legal defense. We serve Mohave, La Paz, Yavapai, and Coconino Counties in Arizona, including Lake Havasu City, Parker, Kingman, Bullhead City, Prescott, Williams, and Flagstaff. Contact us today for a free consultation.
