Assaults most often happen when people overreact in situations. In just a few seconds of losing your composure, your words or actions can cause you to be charged with this serious crime. A criminal assault charge in Idaho can have a devastating impact on your life. A federal assault charge makes the risks in the case even higher and the potential punishments more severe. If you’re facing an assault charge in Idaho for threatening someone with physical injury or death, you need to talk to an experienced assault defense lawyer very soon.

A top criminal assault defense lawyer in Boise, Idaho can help you fully understand all your legal options for your defense and fight for you in court.

Call the Assault Criminal Defense Lawyer in Boise, Idaho

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Assault in Idaho

An assault charge can be a misdemeanor or a felony, depending on the specifics of your case. Based on only a few small details, what would be a simple assault escalates to an assault with a dangerous weapon. The skill of the defense attorney often makes the difference between a defendant being charged with a misdemeanor or felony assault. You need to work with a Boise criminal assault defense lawyer with a strong track record in cases of Idaho and federal assault charges.

Assault Charges in Idaho

There are virtually countless circumstances that can lead to an assault:

  • Altercation with a neighbor
  • Bar fight
  • Road rage incident
  • Domestic violence
  • Any misunderstanding that escalates to threats or an attempted attack

Whatever may have been the situation that resulted in your arrest for assault, you need to decline to discuss the details with investigators before you speak to an experienced Idaho assault attorney. Your future is at risk.

Idaho Assault Laws

In Idaho, assault and battery are the most frequently committed violent crimes. Many people are confused about the differences between these two types of crime:

Assault

Assault is threatening or attempting to harm another person physically (I.C. 18-901). To be guilty of assault, you must have an apparent ability to do the harm you’re threatening to do. The threat must be to do imminent harm, not to do harm in the distant future. Assault is a misdemeanor punishable by up to 3 months in jail and up to a $1,000 fine.

Aggravated Assault

This crime occurs when an assault is committed with a deadly weapon or chemical agent that is likely to cause severe harm, such as when threatening someone with a knife or gun. (I.C. 18-905) But, even a threat or attempt to do great bodily harm without a weapon is classed as aggravated assault. A conviction for this crime carries more severe penalties, so if you are facing this charge you will need a skilled aggravated assault defense lawyer to fight for you in court.

Battery

The crime of battery occurs when a person intentionally hits, kicks, or in some less obvious way causes physical harm to a person (I.C. 18-903). Aggravated Battery: When a battery is committed using a deadly weapon and causing great bodily harm, the crime is classed as aggravated battery. (I.C. 18-907) Examples include attacking a person with a knife, gun, club, dangerous chemical, etc., or without any weapon, if the harm caused is severe. The penalty is up to 15 years in prison and up to a $50,000 fine.

Enhancements of Assault Sentences

There are various ways a sentence for a crime in Idaho may be enhanced. One common example is using a deadly weapon during an aggravated assault. This will “enhance” the maximum sentence by adding 15 years to it (I.C. 19-2520), for a total of 20 years in prison instead of 5 years. A top aggravated assault criminal defense lawyer can build the best possible case for you to avoid the worst potential punishments.

What To Do if You are Charged with Assault in Idaho

Being convicted of an assault charge in Idaho can ruin your life. You’ll have a criminal record for a violent crime that can prevent you from working in your career of choice. It can even affect your ability to rent a house. You should work with the best criminal assault defense attorney Idaho has available to you. A top Boise, ID defense lawyer can have your charges dropped entirely or reduced to a misdemeanor and your penalties minimized.

Sawtooth Defense Lawyers Fight Assault Charges

We have been helping people facing assault charges in Idaho for decades. Our aggressive approach to fighting every case tends to deliver the best results for our clients.

You may find it’s in your best interest to take your case to trial or try to come to a deal with prosecutors to reduce the sentence to a much lesser one. Either way, having the region’s best defense team standing up and fighting for your freedom is the best strategy for winning your case and keeping your freedom and reputation intact.

For a free review of your legal case, call Sawtooth Defense Lawyers at (208) 644-8893, or go to our message page to request an appointment.