Urbana Assault Defense Lawyer

Skilled Assault Defense Attorney Representing Clients in Urbana, Maryland

Putting your hands on someone, or even attempting to put your hands on someone, can be charged as a serious crime. The state of Maryland does not take the crime of assault lightly, and if you are accused of this offense, you could face years in prison. With legal assistance from an Urbana, Maryland assault defense attorney, you can contest the charge in court.

At The Law Offices of Gerstenfield & Demirji, PC., we have the experience and skills to help you defend against an assault charge. Attorney Robert Demirji has experience representing clients accused of violent crimes, and with his extensive legal knowledge, he can strategize around the prosecution's arguments in court.

What Qualifies as Assault in Maryland?

Assault can take many different forms. The common thread between all acts of assault is that they typically involve an intentional act of violence or threat of physical harm against another person. As such, the prosecution must prove that you purposefully committed an act meant to place someone in immediate physical danger or in fear of immediate physical danger.

An act of violence does not need to leave a lasting mark in order to qualify as assault. An open-handed slap, for example, can still be charged as misdemeanor second-degree assault.

You do not even need to make contact with the alleged victim to be charged with assault. Throwing a punch and stopping short can still warrant assault charges. The same applies for pointing a gun at another person, even if the gun was never fired. Note that words alone generally do not constitute assault.

Degrees of Assault

In Maryland, assault comes in two different degrees. Second-degree assault covers cases where the victim was not badly hurt or at risk of serious injury. Going back to an earlier example, an open-handed slap would likely be charged as second-degree assault. This crime carries up to 10 years in prison. In most cases, second-degree assault is prosecuted as a misdemeanor, except for cases where the victim was a first responder or law enforcement officer engaged in their official duties.

First-degree assault is a felony crime reserved for cases where the victim was at immediate risk of serious bodily harm. Under Maryland law, strangling someone or committing assault with a firearm can be charged as first-degree assault. This offense carries a prison sentence of up to 25 years.

Depending on the circumstances of your arrest, the prosecutor could argue to upgrade a charge of second-degree assault to the first degree. At The Law Offices of Gerstenfield & Demirji, PC., we can look for mitigating circumstances in your case to minimize the accusations against you.

Defenses Against an Assault Charge

There is no single defense that can cover every single assault case. At The Law Offices of Gerstenfield & Demirji, PC., we can review your case to determine a viable strategy. Our attorney can argue that:

• You were acting in reasonable self-defense in response to an immediate threat
• You did not intend to hurt or attack the alleged victim
• The victim consented to the alleged act of assault
• You were mistaken for somebody else
• There is not enough evidence to suggest that you committed the crime

During the legal proceedings, we will review all of the evidence carefully to make an informed argument. We will seek the best possible outcome to the case by getting the charges reduced or dropped.

Meet With an Urbana, MD Assault Defense Attorney

If you have been accused of assault, you should reach out to a skilled criminal defense attorney to protect your rights. At The Law Offices of Gerstenfield & Demirji, PC., our Urbana assault lawyer can stand up for you in court. Contact us online or call our offices at 301-589-9500 to arrange a free consultation today.