Assault Charges And Other Violent Crime Allegations
Any argument or altercation may lead to criminal charges of assault and battery. Depending on the actual charges and circumstances, you could be facing jail or prison time, a felony record registration, sex offender registration for child abuse, anger management counseling, restraining orders, civil lawsuits and consequences in employment.
This is an area of the law where swift intervention by an experienced legal team can make a major difference. Our criminal defense attorneys at Ryan Beasley Law in Greenville have decades of legal experience. We have successfully defended clients on all levels of assault charges, as well as allegations of murder and manslaughter.
We offer serious defense for serious charges.
Call us immediately to discuss assault or homicide charges in a confidential consultation. Call us at (864) 679-7777.
Understanding Assault And Battery
In South Carolina, assault and battery are always charged together — a person who commits an assault (threat of violence) could have committed battery (actual violence). The distinctions are in the degree of the charge:
- Assault and battery in the third degree – Physical contact without lasting injury, sometimes called simple assault and battery
- Assault and battery in the second degree – Moderate bodily injury or nonconsensual sexual touching
- Spousal sexual battery – Sexual penetration through force, violence or threat of a weapon
- Assault and battery in the first degree – Bodily injury that also involved sexual assault or a deadly weapon, or occurred during commission of another felony
- Assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature (ABHAN) — Great bodily injury and any of the aggravating factors mentioned above
- Attempted murder – Assault and battery with intent to kill
Proactive Defense For Violent Crime Allegations
Second- and third-degree assault charges are misdemeanors, while aggravated assaults (first degree and above) are felony offenses. Reducing the charges, even one level, can take serious penalties off of the table. Of course, the ideal outcome is for the charges to go away entirely. This is where our skill and experience come in.
We practice in both state and federal courts of Greenville County and surrounding counties in the Upstate area. We have developed strong relationships with law enforcement officers, prosecutors, judges, and probation and parole officers in these jurisdictions. When you contact us, especially early in the process, we can often head off the most serious charges or convince the prosecutor that no charges are merited.
In the event that the prosecution goes forward, we can explore all defenses and mitigating factors, such as provocation, self-defense, mistaken identity, motivation of the victim to falsely accuse you and the severity of the victim’s injuries. We are an accomplished trial team that can defend you before a judge or jury if we cannot negotiate a favorable resolution.
Tell Your Side Of The Story
Assault and battery are often overcharged, and law enforcement too often relies on the complainant’s version of events. We can often challenge the underlying charges and the victim’s account, knowing what is at stake for you.
For experienced representation on charges of assault and violent crimes, call us today at (864) 679-7777 or contact us online to arrange a confidential consultation.
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