Salt Lake City Assault By Strangulation Attorneys
Protecting Clients from Felony Charges
If you’re facing the serious criminal charge of assault by strangulation in Salt Lake City, you are likely going through one of the scariest times of your life. After all, strangulation is a form of aggravated assault, which can result in severe legal penalties that include lengthy prison sentences, costly fines, and lasting damage to your reputation. In such a critical situation, you need a skilled Salt Lake City defense lawyer by your side from the beginning to the end of your case.
If you’re ready to speak with attorneys who understand the complexities of this criminal charge and can aggressively advocate on your behalf, contact Conyers & Nix today. Our legal team has represented numerous clients facing criminal charges for violent crimes of all kinds, so you can rest assured we have extensive experience defending against assault charges in Utah. Call our law firm today for a consultation.
What Is Assault by Strangulation According to Utah Law?
Assault by strangulation is a felony offense in this state. This criminal act involves intentionally obstructing the alleged victim’s airway by putting enough pressure on their neck or throat to impair their ability to breathe or even cause them to lose consciousness.
So, you can be charged with this offense if you’re accused of choking, suffocating, or otherwise restricting the victim’s breathing or circulation of blood through physical force. Note that assault by strangulation is considered a felony charge in Utah since it is aggravated assault.
If you’re unfamiliar with aggravated assault, it is a type of offense that involves causing serious bodily harm to another person through the use of a deadly weapon or strangulation. More specifically, you can be charged with aggravated assault in Utah if you allegedly used violence or force to cause or attempt to cause injury through:
- A dangerous weapon, such as a gun or knife
- Choking or suffocating the victim
- Other means that could be likely to cause serious bodily injury or death
An aggravated assault charge is more serious than a simple assault charge, which describes bodily harm or a credible threat of bodily harm to the victim. Simple assault usually results in minor or temporary physical harm, while aggravated assault – including strangulation – can cause permanent damage or even death.
The criminal justice system in Utah takes assault by strangulation charges very seriously, meaning you could face years in prison if you’re convicted of this crime. As a result, it’s essential for you to have an experienced Salt Lake City criminal defense lawyer to protect your interests throughout the legal process. Call our law office today to speak with caring attorneys.
What Are the Criminal Penalties of Aggravated Assault Charges in Utah?
If you’re accused of assault by strangulation, you are facing a felony charge that will likely lead to prison time if you’re convicted. Your specific penalties will depend on what degree of felony your alleged offense is considered. The circumstances surrounding your situation – including who the victim is and how severe their injuries are – will determine if you’re charged with a second or third-degree felony.
If your alleged victim is not a member of your household, you could face a third-degree felony charge. If you’re convicted of this crime, your penalties will likely include up to five years in prison and up to $5,000 in fines.
If you’re accused of strangling a member of your household in an act of domestic violence, your aggravated assault charges will be considered more severe, as they’ll become second-degree felony charges. So, if you’re accused of strangling one of your family members or anyone else who lives in your household, you’re facing a second-degree felony, which can result in up to 15 years in prison and fines of up to $10,000. You could also be charged with a second-degree felony if your alleged violent crime caused the victim serious bodily injury or unconsciousness.
If you’re accused of committing aggravated assault on a police officer in Utah, you could be charged with a first-degree felony. Depending on the specific circumstances of your case, you could be sentenced to anywhere from five years in prison to a life sentence, plus up to $10,000 in fines.
When you compare these penalties to the punishment for simple assault charges in Utah, you can see just how serious aggravated assault charges are. A Class B misdemeanor for simple assault can lead to up to six months of jail time and up to $1,000 in fines. A Class A misdemeanor can result in up to one year of jail time and up to $2,500 in fines. So, while simple assault and aggravated assault charges can both lead to prison or jail time and fines, an aggravated assault conviction is much more serious.
After all, when you’re convicted of a felony, the consequences go beyond prison time and fines, as you’ll also have to deal with the challenges of having a felony conviction on your criminal record. Not only could you lose your gun rights and voting rights, but you might also have trouble finding a job or rental home in the future, since background checks will show that you were convicted of third, second, or first-degree felony charges.
If you want a chance to avoid these consequences, you should contact an experienced criminal defense lawyer who has successfully handled aggravated assault cases for clients throughout Utah. Whether your criminal charges accuse you of committing domestic violence, causing serious bodily injury, or other harmful allegations, you’ll need a strong defense strategy for the best chances of getting your charges dismissed or reduced. Contact our Utah criminal defense firm today to discuss your aggravated assault charge with compassionate attorneys serving the Salt Lake City area.
What Are Some Legal Defense Options for Your Case?
While it is essential to take aggravated assault charges seriously, it’s also important to avoid giving up hope on your case. You may be surprised at the many criminal defense options skilled lawyers can use to fight aggravated assault and domestic violence charges. Our trusted criminal defense lawyers have experience using a wide variety of defense strategies, so you can count on us to determine the best defense option for your case.
One example of a way to fight an aggravated assault charge is lack of intent. This is because for you to be proven guilty of assault by strangulation, it must be apparent that you acted intentionally to obstruct the victim’s breathing or blood flow. If your defense lawyer can show that you did not intentionally strangle or attempt to suffocate the victim – such as if the physical contact was accidental – your aggravated assault charge could be reduced or dismissed.
Another common defense against aggravated assault is self-defense. If the alleged victim attacked or threatened you, and you used force to protect yourself, you may be able to argue that your actions were justified under Utah’s self-defense laws. Just keep in mind that the amount of force used in the situation must be reasonable and proportional to the threat. If the court determines that the amount of force you used was excessive, self-defense might not be an effective strategy for your aggravated assault case.
Your Utah assault lawyer might determine that it’s best to try to prove that the allegations against you are simply false. This attempt may be a successful strategy if you can prove there’s a lack of physical evidence to convict you and plenty of motive to try to ruin your reputation. For instance, if there’s no evidence that you caused a physical injury – such as photos of bruises on the neck or medical records describing a serious injury – it will be difficult to convict you. Furthermore, if the supposed victim has a clear motive to accuse you of a serious domestic violence charge – such as a difficult divorce case or custody battle – a skilled lawyer can present proof of this in court to show you’re not guilty of domestic violence charges.
Our criminal defense team has years of experience fighting for our clients in court to dismiss or reduce serious allegations of domestic violence, simple assault, and aggravated assault, to name a few charges we can defend you from. We have the legal knowledge and resources necessary to disprove life-altering accusations against you, as we’re adept at gathering witness testimony, video footage, pictures, medical records, and other evidence to support your case. So, if you were accused of using violence or unlawful force to cause injury to someone, contact our law office to discuss how we can fight your charges.
Are You Ready to Call Salt Lake City Assault By Strangulation Attorneys?
In this state, being accused of committing a violent crime is extremely serious due to the potential penalties associated with felony and misdemeanor crimes. A convicted defendant could end up with jail time or even life imprisonment, plus the maximum fines, depending on the circumstances of the case. You need a great lawyer on your side to show that you are not guilty of using unlawful force to seriously injure someone else.
Whether you’re dealing with a domestic violence case or accusations of aggravated assault against a person outside your household, it can be scary to consider the possible consequences of a conviction. When you hire a skilled lawyer, you can rest assured that you have a legal professional ready to fight aggressively on your behalf. Our defense team understands what is at stake for you, so you can trust us to carefully explore every defense option as we prepare for your next court date.
We’re not afraid to challenge the evidence against you, negotiate a plea deal, or represent you in front of a judge when necessary. We want you to know we have your best interests at heart when it comes to your case, and that’s why we will work tirelessly to achieve the best possible outcome for you. If you’re ready to learn more about how our lawyers can defend you from charges of assault by strangulation and other crimes in Utah, call 385-469-1097 for a legal consultation.