Assault, aggravated assault, and the crimes of assault are all intentional harm inflicted on someone. Depending on the gravity of the attack, including the use of a weapon, it can be classified as aggravated assault, while the threat of an attack or physical attack is typically classified as a battery, assault, or both.
An assault doesn’t require physical force, as brandishing a weapon or threat of violence is enough to receive an assault charge. However, there are various forms of assault that carry different penalties. They include the following;
1. A Simple Assault
This is among the most common types of assault involving altercations, like a pull or push between two or more parties. With a simple assault charge, there’s no weapon used or bodily harm.
Depending on the severity of the assault, there are two types of prosecutions to be pursued. The first is a summary conviction processed by a judge without the presence of a jury. Mostly, you will be given a warning without the possibility of jail time.
The second is an indictable offense, which is more severe and has a formal court proceeding, requiring you to seek help from a criminal lawyer.
2. Sexual Assault Charges
Sexual assault is non-consensual sex that may include the act of violence or threat. This serious personal assault can be prosecuted as an indictable offense, facing 18 months to 10 years of possible jail time or summary conviction.
Sex offenders face a variety of penalties depending on the crime’s classification, ranging from a Class 1 felony to a Class 1 misdemeanor and charges including extensive prison time or higher fines. Sexual assault can also include aggravated sexual assault and sexual assault with weapon charges, with offenders facing up to ten years in prison.
3. Aggravated Assault Charges
When an assault becomes physical, it’s known as aggravated assault. The injuries inflicted during the attack could lead to long-term impairment, maiming (an injury that causes the other party to be unable to defend themselves effectively), breaking of the skin, disfiguring, endangerment, or death.
Aggravated assault charges are indictable offenses, with 18 months to 10 years in prison.
4. Assaulting a Police Officer Charges
When an assault is directed at any body of officers representing the government’s civil authority, the charges and convictions you’ll face are different. If guilty of an assault towards an officer, you may receive a summary conviction or indictable offense, depending on the assault’s severity.
Any assault on a police officer carries different prison times of up to 14 years. Police officers should be able to maintain law and order, reduce fear of crime, protect members of the public, and improve the quality of life for all citizens without the threat of violence.
5. Verbal Assault
By law, verbal assault is a form of domestic violence that occurs when an individual intentionally tries to cause emotional or mental damage through spoken words. This communicated intent to inflict harm on another person can lead to civil or criminal cases.
Verbal assault is harder to navigate as it depends on the “ you said” or “she said” form of argument without tangible evidence unless it qualifies as an assault. In this case, your lawyer should prove beyond reasonable doubt that the uttered words left you afraid of physical harm.
Summary
An assault is a serious crime, whether a simple form or aggravated assault, as it leaves you in fear due to a threat or weapon use. In addition, a statute of limitation may limit the time you have to report the assault and receive compensation for damage. Therefore, no matter the assault you have experienced, reach out to a lawyer for justice and compensation for harm caused.
