By: Larry Kohn, Cory Yager and William Head, at an award-winning Criminal Defense Attorney Law Firm
Assault and Battery crimes are often trivialized. However, Georgia code categorizes these serious offenses as “Crimes Against the Person.” The first thing you need to know about GA aggravated assault is that all cases constitute felony aggravated assault offenses, with up to 20 years in State prison.
One of the main statutes for which assault crimes are brought is OCGA aggravated assault. This chapter also addresses assaults and batteries charged as a homicide, or cruelty to children, and kidnapping. Because a great number of aggravated assault cases are associated with a gun or firearm, and our criminal lawyers’ first questions will surround whether legal justification by discharging a weapon may exonerate you.
A commonly asked question is “what is the difference between Assault and Battery?” In the state of GA, battery involves physical contact/physical abuse. There are two degrees for assault and battery charges: “simple” offenses are classified as misdemeanors and “aggravated” offenses are often felonies, these carry harsher penalties and are classified according to the severity of the crime and/or injury.
Certain circumstances can elevate the charge(s), to a misdemeanor with a high and aggravated nature, some of these include:
- If the person commits the offense of assault in a public transit vehicle,
- If domestic violence occurs; or
- If the victim is a correctional officer, firefighter, police officer, a teacher, an elder, or pregnant.
Even though these offenses of a high and aggravated nature are misdemeanors, they carry harsher penalties. Another commonly asked question: “Is domestic violence a felony?” According to GA law, first-time domestic violence conviction is a high and aggravated misdemeanor, with any subsequent convictions being a felony. Family violence law is a commission of offenses of battery, simple battery, simple assault, assault, stalking, criminal damage to property, unlawful restraint, or criminal trespass occurs between current and former spouses, parents and children penalties become more severe. (Full list of relationships listed under punishment)
To avoid these criminal charges turning into life-altering convictions, you need a criminal defense lawyer with years of experience and knowledge on how to build a strategic defense against such allegations to receive reduced charges. Call the law office of Kohn & Yager, LLC in Atlanta, Georgia to speak with one of our attorneys regarding your case.
What is Aggravated Assault in Georgia?
Simple Assault, the most common type of assault in the state of Georgia, is a misdemeanor and is punishable by serving up to one year in jail, fines, community service, restitution, and probation. However, no physical contact needs to occur. O.C.G.A. § 16-5-20 (2010). Simple Assault is 1) when a person attempts to commit a violent injury to another, or 2) acts in such a manner that the victim feels they are in imminent danger.
Being accused of a simple assault charge can happen to citizens with no prior legal history. An example of a charge being accused is, in an altercation, persons without legal justification results in strangulation, as a means of preventing imminent harm.
Aggravated Assault (O.C.G.A. § 16-5-21) (2010) is classified as a felony and is defined as when a person:
1) assaults with intent to rape, murder, or to rob;
2) assaults with a deadly weapon, or with any object, device, or instrument which, when used offensively against a person, is likely to or does result in serious bodily injury; or
3) assaults without justification discharging a firearm from within a motor vehicle toward a person or persons.
This type of crime carries severe penalties, since many involve allegations of the use of a weapon or with the intent to murder, to rape, or to rob. Aggravated Assault sentences range from 1-20 years in prison, in addition to fines and restitution.
What is the Punishment for Aggravated Assault in Georgia?
The penalties vary depending on the class and severity of the circumstances briefly mentioned earlier. Punishments excluding any “special” circumstances that would increase the punishment for this felony charge may include:
(1) fines up to $100,000
(2) restitution
(3) probation for up to 20 years
(4) up to a 20-year sentence in prison.
Listed below are factors that intensify the offense of aggravated assault and its penalties.
- If the offense is against a law enforcement officer or correctional officer, minimum imprisonment sentence is 5 years with no more than 20 years,
- If the offense is against an elderly person who is 65 years of age or older, minimum imprisonment sentence is 3 years with no more than 20 years,
- If the offense takes place in a public transit vehicle or station, minimum imprisonment sentence is 3 years with no more than 20 years,
- If the offense involves the use of a firearm, takes place in a school safety zone and is against a teacher, student or other school personnel, minimum imprisonment sentence is 5 years with no more than 20 years,
- If the offense is against a person or person(s) included in the family violence law; current or former spouses, stepparents, and stepchildren, parents and children, persons who are parents of the same child, foster parents and foster children, or persons currently or formerly living in the same household minimum imprisonment sentence is 3 years with no more than 20 years,
- If the offense is committed with intent to rape against a child under the age of 14, minimum imprisonment sentence is 25 years, with no more than 50 years; or
- If the offense is against an officer of the court, and such person is engaged in, or on the account of the performance of his or her official duties, minimum imprisonment sentence is 5 years with no more than 20 years. If the offense involves the discharge of a firearm by an individual over the age of 17, minimum imprisonment sentence is 10 years with no more than 20 years.
If you have any previous felony convictions on your criminal record, the Prosecutor will be asking that you serve the maximum time of 20 years in prison.
How to Fight Aggravated Assault Charges in Georgia
Self-defense is one of the most common defenses used to fight these types of charges. This defense is referred to as an affirmative defense, which includes admitting that the violent threat of the assault did happen, but the reasoning behind the violence was justifiable under law.
Other common defenses our Atlanta attorneys use in cases involving aggravated assault charges: defense of others and/or property, lack of intent, or the object used in the aggravated assault incident with a deadly weapon was not a deadly weapon. It is still possible to have the charges reduced, and maybe even dismissed, our criminal lawyers will exhaust every resource to minimize the charges against you.
Can I Request an Aggravated Assault Georgia First Offender Plea? First Time Assault Charge
In the state of Georgia, the First Offender Act is a law that allows “first offenders” to enter a guilty plea and serve out the terms of their sentence, either probation and jail time, or solely probation. Upon completion of the term without any violations, the charges will be dismissed.
This alternative sentence may only be used one time and may only be used if the defendant has not previously been convicted of a felony. Pursuant to O.C.G.A. § 17-10-6.1 (2010), Aggravated Assault is NOT one of the crimes that are eligible for sentencing under Georgia’s First Offender Act. As previously mentioned, if the charges are reduced to simple assault charges, this may then become an option for the defendant, according to the circumstances.
Can I Get an Aggravated Assault Bond in GA?
OCGA 17-6-1 lists thirteen offenses that are “non-bailable” in the state of Georgia, and Aggravated Assault is one of them. However, you may be released on bond for Aggravated Assault if it is set by a Superior Court Judge of the county the charges are filed. The Judge shall authorize an individual to be released on bond if the court finds that the person:
- Poses no flight risk, risk of fleeing or failing to appear in court,
- Poses no significant threat to the community, other persons or property within the community,
- No risk of committing any felony pending trial; and
- Poses no significant risk of obstructing the administration of justice or intimidating witnesses.
In addition to these requirements, the Judge will also look at the accused’s criminal history (if any), nature of the crime, and the circumstances.
If you recently have been charged with Aggravated Assault, Simple Assault, or Battery charges call Kohn & Yager, LLC. at (404) 567-5515 to speak with one of our lawyers about your case before it’s too late. Our team of Aggravated Assault attorneys serve the greater metro-Atlanta area, including the following counties: Cherokee, Cobb, Dekalb, Fulton and Gwinnett. Our criminal lawyers provide top legal representation and are here to fight your charges on your behalf. Give yourself and your life the fighting chance you deserve, call for your FREE CONSULTATION now.
Related Links:
Georgia’s Assault and Battery Laws
Legal Resources and Information on Assault & Battery Laws
O.C.G.A. § 19-13-1 Family Violence
If you or anyone you know is subject to abuse, emotionally or physically, get help NOW by calling the National Domestic Violence Hotline: call 1-800-799-7233.
Bonds and Recognizances: OCGA § 17-6-1 (2010) Where offenses bailable; procedure; schedule of bails; appeal bonds
DISCLAIMER AND PRIVACY POLICY
The information you obtain at this web site, related videos, image resources, Facebook, Twitter or other social media content, or blog postings is not, nor is it intended to be or provide, legal advice from a Georgia lawyer. This page is designed to help you find legal information, learn the basics about any criminal offense or court case in the state of Georgia, and then search for attorneys near me for your representation in GA.
You are well advised to consult an attorney for legal advice regarding your individual situation, and to obtain targeting help from an experienced lawyer in the community. Our Georgia lawyers invite you to peruse our site for answers to FAQs, charts, graphics and explanation of legal terms about Georgia laws. Then, call today about our legal services.
Our attorneys in Atlanta can interview you in person, or remotely via cell phone video conference or computer laptop or desktop interview. Our law group welcomes your email communication, chat responses, phone calls, letters and electronic mail, so that we can try to be of service in the areas of criminal defense when you contact us.
Our law office maintains a strict privacy policy, and (if you don’t retain one of our Georgia attorneys) our law firm staff will shred your paperwork. Contacting us (through any communication method) does not create an attorney-client relationship until a fee agreement is signed and you hire a legal professional with our legal team.
Please do not send any confidential information to our GA attorneys through this website portal until such time as an attorney-client relationship has been established and all terms and conditions or our retainer contact are agreed upon. If needed, clients may request a payment plan with our criminal justice attorney for payment of your legal fees.
Copyright 2020, by William C. Head. All rights reserved.