Austin Assault and Violent Offenses Lawyer

Types of Violent Crime Charges

Assault

Assault, also known as battery in Texas, is the simplest and most common type of violent offense. The offense if an individual knowingly or recklessly inflicts bodily injury on another person. The Texas Penal Code also states that intentional threats of immediate bodily injury will be treated the same as an actual assault. Penalties for assault are up to 1 year in jail and a fine of up to $4000 for simpler Class A Misdemeanor assault. The classification can be escalated to a 3rd Degree Felony if certain circumstances exist, so contact us for a consultation if you've been arrested for assault.

Aggravated Assault

An aggravated assault is a violent crime involving a deadly weapon such as a knife or firearm. It is treated as a 2nd Degree Felony in Texas with mandatory prison sentence of between 2 and 20 years.

Injury to a Child, Elderly, or Disabled Person

This offense applies if injury is caused by purposeful action or by neglect to a disabled person or to someone younger than 15 or older than 64.

Abandoning or Endangering a Child

The charge of abandoning or endangering a child is not clearly defined, but instead refers to whether a "reasonable" adult would put a child in a similar situation, either intentionally or by an act of negligence. The law also states that adults who manufacture, possess, or use methamphetamine or other controlled substances in the presence of a child are committing this offense. All variations of this charge are felonies.

Deadly Conduct

Deadly conduct is behavior reckless enough to put others at risk of serious bodily injury. It is classified as a Class A Misdemeanor unless it involves a firearm, at which point it is a 3rd Degree Felony.

Terroristic Threat

A terroristic threat charge is best thought of as an act with the intention of causing public disruption and chaos. It can occur if an individual intentionally causes an emergency reaction or instills immediate fear of injury in others, such as by deceptively shouting "Fire!" in a crowded theater.

This charge begins as a Class B Misdemeanor but can be escalated to a Class A Misdemeanor if the act is committed against family members or a public servant, or if it disrupts the operations of public property or a vehicle like an airplane. Terroristic threats are felonies if they result in $1,500 of damage or if they target many people at once, public utilities, or a branch of government.

Aiding Suicide

The offense of aiding suicide occurs when an individual intends to promote or assist in an act of suicide and is a Class C Misdemeanor. If a suicide attempt occurs and results in bodily injury or death, the charge is a State Jail Felony.

Tampering with Consumer Product

This charge involves altering or adding a foreign substance to a commercial product, such as a food or drug, which will be sold to the public or given as a gift. If the tampering makes it probable that it will cause bodily injury, then it's a 2nd Degree Felony violent offense. If it actually causes serious injury, it's a 1st Degree Felony. Threats to tamper with a product are treated as 3rd Degree Felonies.

Leaving a Child in a Vehicle

Individuals have committed the offense of leaving a child in a vehicle if the knowingly leave a child, 6 years old or younger, unattended by someone 14 years old or older. The child must be left in the vehicle for more than 5 minutes. This charge is a Class C Misdemeanor.