Assault and Battery Offenses Attorney in Dallas

A wide range of criminal charges that fit under the heading of “assault and battery.” And Texas prosecutors take each of them extremely seriously. Any conviction is serious, but the penalties for assault and battery are often particularly severe. And these charges frequently pair with other serious charges, such as domestic abuse and weapons charges.

A conviction can result in significant court-ordered penalties, such as probation, fines, and jail time. But those convicted of assault and battery often also experience other non-legal penalties. The stigma that often accompanies these charges can damage one’s personal and professional reputation. It can also limit educational and professional opportunities in the future. At the Law Offices of Mark T. Lassiter, our Dallas assault and battery defense lawyers understand how a conviction can affect your life. We are here to protect the rights of people like you facing these significant charges.

Call us at (214) 845-7007 today for a free consultation to learn more about how we can help.

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Types of Assault and Battery Cases

People often think of assault and battery as one criminal charge. But they’re actually two separate charges that carry very different penalties for conviction. The charges you face will depend on the circumstances surrounding the offense. There are varying degrees of assault, some more serious than others. Whether you’re facing a misdemeanor or felony, you deserve representation from a qualified defense attorney.

According to Texas Penal Code § 22.01, assault is:

Knowingly, recklessly, or intentionally causing another person or their spouse bodily injury
Knowingly or intentionally threatening someone or their spouse with bodily injury
Knowingly or intentionally engaging in physical contact with another despite knowing or reasonably assuming they might consider it offensive

Battery, on the other hand, involves actual harm caused by physical contact.

Different classifications of assault arise when a person:

Threatens or causes offensive physical contact with another
Commits an assault against another person while participating in a sporting event as a form of retaliation
Causes bodily injury with no other factors involved
Knowingly assaults a government employee, an emergency service provider, or a public servant performing official duties
Commits assault against a spouse, partner, or family member
Commits aggravated assault involving a weapon or serious injury

Under the umbrella of assault and battery are several other criminal offenses, including:

Charges as serious as these are often prosecuted aggressively. Without an experienced attorney on your side, you could face unfair treatment and infringements on your rights. As such, if you are facing any of these or other assault or battery charges, take action today and contact the Law Offices of Mark T. Lassiter. You should not have to go through this traumatic experience alone. We will remain by your side until the very end and help you through the stressful and overwhelming legal process.

Texas Penalties for Assault and Battery Convictions

The consequences you might face if you’re convicted of assault and battery are serious. You could end up paying expensive fines and serving a prison sentence. The punishment you receive could depend on various factors, such as:

The type of assault
The severity of the offense
Whether bodily injury or death occurred
If you used any weapons during the crime
Your criminal history

Below are the different penalties associated with each type of offense:

Misdemeanor Assault

There are three different classifications of misdemeanors with varying penalties.

Class C – No jail time and a maximum of a $500 fine
Class B – Up to 180 days in jail and a maximum of a $2,000 fine
Class A – Up to one year in jail and a maximum of a $4,000 fine

Felony Assault

Varying degrees of felony punishments depend on the aggravating circumstances of the offense:

Third-degree – Discharging of a firearm, harassment of a public servant, or terroristic threats. Two to ten years in jail and a maximum of $10,000 in fines.
Second-degree – Sexual assault or domestic violence. Two to twenty years in state prison and a maximum of $10,000 in fines.
Third-degree – Aggravated sexual assault or aggravated assault with a weapon. Five years to life in prison and a maximum of $10,000 in fines.

When you’re facing a possible prison sentence, you should have an experienced Dallas criminal defense attorney on your side. The criminal penalties aren’t the only consequences you could suffer. You could also lose your job, ruin your reputation, and face daily challenges upon your release from jail. You might have a difficult time finding a new job or applying for college.

At Law Offices of Mark T. Lassiter, we understand the implications of an assault and battery conviction. We will go to battle for you and create a defense strategy that tears the prosecutor’s case to shreds. We have extensive resources to gather evidence and prove that you deserve a second chance. Our main goal will be to get the charges dropped, but we can work on a plea deal to get your sentencing reduced if we’re unable to do so.

Defenses We Might Use Against Your Assault and Battery Charge

Assault and Battery Offenses Attorney in Dallas The prosecution must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that you’re guilty of the offense. If they can’t show sufficient evidence that you committed the alleged crime, your case might not go to trial.

We could try to negotiate a plea agreement to reduce the charge and ensure you receive a more lenient sentence. For example, instead of jail time, we could negotiate for probation or community service.

However, if the prosecutor can bring the case to court, there are some defenses we might be able to use depending on the circumstances of the offense. They include:

The alleged crime didn’t cause actual physical injury
The assault didn’t cause the victim’s injuries
You didn’t know that the victim would take the offense as provocative or offensive
You had no way of knowing that the victim was an officer, public servant, or another important figure
You committed the actions in self-defense
There was no reasonable way for the victim to believe the threat or that you would follow through with it
The victim wrongly identified you as the perpetrator
You were acting under coercion or duress to commit the crime

You can depend on the Dallas defense attorneys at the Law Offices of Mark T. Lassiter to thoroughly review your case and determine the best path forward. We will present these options for you to make a decision. It is not our job to pressure you into anything that you don’t feel comfortable with. Instead, we offer our legal advice and guidance so you can make an informed decision about how you want your case handled.

Contact a Dallas Assault Defense Attorney Today

At the Law Offices of Mark T. Lassiter, we defend the rights of those charged with assault and battery crimes, and we are ready to fight for you. We don’t hold back when we’re defending a client against an assault charge. We understand what’s at stake and will aggressively seek justice for the allegations made against you.

For over 12 years, we have represented clients in Dallas and throughout Texas. We’ve built a superior reputation in that time, receiving recognition from various legal organizations. These include The National Trial Lawyers, Super Lawyers, and AVVO.

We’re familiar with state laws and legal procedures. Many of our Dallas assault defense attorneys grew up here. We care about the people in our community and aim to protect their rights and secure their future. You can depend on us to use our experience and knowledge of criminal cases to get the results you want.

If you have been arrested or charged with assault and battery in Dallas, contact the Law Offices of Mark T. Lassiter immediately. The sooner you seek legal representation, the sooner we can work on your case and reach a favorable resolution so you can move forward with your life. Contact us today at (214) 845-7007 and learn more about what our team can do to defend your rights.

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TESTIMONIALS

Recommendation for Mark LassiterI am pleased to write a letter of recommendation. I highly recommend Mark Lassiter to others who are seeking such assistance. His representation allowed me to do very little in my case. It was Mark’s proven expertise and his legal knowledge that was valuable in getting my case dismissed. In short, I recommend Mark enthusiastically without reservation and I do believe he would be a valuable asset to you.

- Name Redacted

dear Markplease accept this letter on my and Susan’s behalf. there is a powerful message and testimony we would like to share with you for the first time.for over a year the weight of what happened to Reid was heavy on our souls. at first we held great anger, resentment and disgust toward Angel (the passenger). it became evident after turning 21 the Angel has a severe alcohol problem which my son nor us fully understood. The arrest also brought us great disappointment, frustration and disheartenment toward Reid.We have found that God often surprises us with his answers to our prayers. Prior to the arrest was had been in prayer that God help turn Reid away from selfishness, childishness and destructive ways. We prayed that God move to change him toward everlasting values and better choices in his life. We believe that God answered that prayer with the arrest. We blamed ourselves for bringing this calamity but understood it would take something this powerful to reach him. There is no doubt in our minds this ordeal has placed a permanent imprint on his soul.during the many delays associated with this case we were able to put forgiveness in our hearts toward Angel. Also during the many delays the full weight of the case in our and Reid’s mind triggered conversations pertaining to life decisions and direction. Time allowed us the opportunity to be rid of the noise and cloudiness of our emotions. We believe this to be a part of the master plan that God was overseeing.Only today did the full story become revealed. During this case with all the odds against us can we say without question that God was in it. How else could the series of events occurred within the judicial process that could put the opportunity in to your mind that there was a way to victory. The entire morning Susan and i were in fervent prayer even after your told us we had only a 25% chance of winning.Grace is the receipt of a blessing that is undeserved. Reid did not deserve to win today. We all are eternally marked by the message of grace given to us and you were the instrument that brought the gift to our house. Thank you from bottom of our souls and may God bless and keep you all of your days.

- Name Redacted

Dear Mr. Lassiter,Today you saved my son’s life. When he received a DWI, it broke my heart because I knew it would be on his record forever. It would limit his options in life. He would be paying for his stupid mistake for the rest of his life. At 21 years of age he was overwhelmed with the depth of the problem he created for himself.I decided to find him the best lawyer in Dallas, and I did. I researched lawyers for two days, and then I found you. I knew from the moment I read about you that you were the one we needed. When I met you, I knew instantly that I had complete confidence in you. Even if the result had ended with my son being guilty, I would have had peace knowing that he had had THE BEST lawyer.Listening to you “own” the courtroom today was amazing. You told us in the morning that we only had about 25% chance to win; however, by the middle of the afternoon the case was over before the prosecutors even finished, and we won! What an incredible lawyer you are!I will be grateful forever to you. Your work has given my son a second chance. He left the courtroom today with a whole new perspective on life…thanks to you!Very sincerely,

- Susan Ellis

unless you are already a petty criminal with countless B and C misdemeanors and a misdemeanor A pending, a DWI charge might not really matter much – for all the others counts: Fight it with all you got – get the best professional to your side you can find!Why should you? A simple google search “Texas DWI penalties” will give you an idea what you are looking at: prison, probation, fines, classes, ignition interlock, insurance rate skyrockets and a criminal record for life (yes – this can happen even for a first time DWI in Texas) Now if you read until this point you probably are charged with a DWI (or simply board) and you are shopping for a lawyer – so some basic guidance:a) Same as in real life: You want to be surrounded by people who know what they are talking about. Nobody likes people who constantly brag around, through around the usual business buzz words which doesn’t mean anything. So: Get somebody who is specialized in this field, means if 50% or more of his work is in the field of defending DWI’s that’s probably a good indicator– Mark is one of them – talk to him you will see!b) Educate yourself – thanks to a wonderful innovation by DARPA (which you are using in this moment) you can read all about it: What happened the night before, what’s a SFT, what is a legal stop, how does an Intoxilyzer 5000 work and what flaws does it have, possible plea bargain options (not so tempting ones in TX anyway) – read the stuff, it’s out there and discuss it with your attorney – if he doesn’t want or can’t answer your questions, that’s a pretty good indicator that your sitting in the wrong office, run!– Mark WILL answer your questions – and I’m convinced you cannot surprise him with a question in your case that he can’t answer or will find an answer for you!c) Your lawyer should – more or less – from the beginning be willing to take your case to Trial, all the way. What do you have to lose? If you are a BAC 0.28 candidate and you plea it down to a misdemeanor B it technically looks better on paper – but it will still follow you for life (most employers wouldn’t even consider the difference or know it – a DWI is a DWI…) If you are a BAC 0.09 candidate your chances are even better – (did you know the Intoxilyzer 5000 gives himself a +-0.02 calibration margin? What now, is a BAC 0.09 and hour after driving now under the legal limit? Guess what, the state will state “off course NOT! The magic machine proved he’s Intoxicated and guilty!” That’s why you need a lawyer on your side who is willing to take it to trial!– Mark is a trial lawyer – those people don’t want to plea out, they need the courtroom as their stage, that’s what they love to do, that’s what they are good at – so let him do it for you!d) Money / Costs – completely neglect. This is not the time for price comparison. You are not out there to shop for new hardwood floor for your living room – you are out there to get the best possible outcome in a situation which initial will hurt you if convicted pretty bad (financially), possible cost you your job, destroy your reputation and will follow you around for the rest of your natural life.– Mark will not overcharge you for his service, in my opinion you are getting a great deal. If you have the feeling you cannot afford a lawyer like Mark put it into perspective: if you hire a $500 lawyer and plead guilty maybe to a DWI misdemeanor B, you will pay much more over the years in court costs, classes, probation fees, DPS surcharges, insurance and and and… But if you hire Mark, you have one of the best at your side, you have a real chance – off course Mark isn’t a magic wizard who can make everything go away in a moment’s notice, but 5,10,20 years down the road you don’t want to think “oh boy, I wish I would have fought this thing more aggressively back then…” I was already a bit into my case when I met Mark. Mark has a can do attitude, does not try to beat around the bush and most importantly: He looks at things, tries different avenues, seeks out weaknesses in the case base on the evidence presented – if you meet him, you will have the same experience. During our meetings we discussed alternatives and other options e.g. expert witnesses, jury trial, bench trial, plea agreement (even if he didn’t like that – Mark doesn’t want to plea, he wants to win for his clients)And here is the outcome:A clear acquittal – NOT GUILTY(even better than a dismissal which technically can be reopened by the DA within the statute of limitations – if I understood that right – Not guilty means you are not guilty, case expunged – that’s the end of it!)Mark’s services helped me to get the best possible outcome you can expect when you are charged with a (DWI / DUI) crime and I hope I will never see him again….. (under such circumstances J ) –

- Daniel

I would never use or recommend anyone else for anybody else for a criminal manner.

- Cory M.

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