If you are facing an assault charge in Houston, TX, then you need to seek advice and legal representation from a knowledgeable and qualified criminal defense attorney. An assault lawyer will defend you in court and try to help you avoid an assault conviction.
There are different kinds of assault charges that you could face, so your Houston assault lawyer needs to understand the details of the alleged assault to provide you with a strong defense if or when your case goes to trial. When you need representation in your Houston assault case, you should turn to George Napier of The Napier Law Firm. George Napier is an experienced assault attorney who will work directly with you on your case to try and help you achieve a beneficial outcome.
Contact The Napier Law Firm to discuss the charge, the available evidence and any upcoming court setting. A lawyer can challenge the State’s case and explain your options, but no lawyer can promise that you will avoid a conviction or prison.
Understanding Assault Charges Involving Bodily Injury in Houston, TX
The first step is identifying the exact charge. Texas law distinguishes bodily-injury assault, threat assault, offensive-contact assault and aggravated assault. A family-violence allegation can affect classification and other consequences, but the relationship alone does not determine the degree.
Texas Penal Code § 22.01 defines three forms of assault: intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly causing bodily injury; intentionally or knowingly threatening imminent bodily injury; or intentionally or knowingly making physical contact while knowing or having reason to believe the other person will regard it as offensive or provocative. Threat/contact offenses are generally Class C and bodily-injury assault generally Class A, subject to exceptions.
Assault involving a family, household, or dating relationship is not automatically a felony. Bodily-injury assault under § 22.01(a)(1) is generally a Class A misdemeanor. A qualifying prior offense or intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly impeding breathing or blood circulation by pressure to the throat or neck or blocking the nose or mouth can make it a third-degree felony. A qualifying prior plus the impeding conduct can make it second degree under § 22.01(b-3). Deferred adjudication can count as a prior under § 22.01(f); a prior arrest alone is not enough.
What is the Difference Between Battery and Assault?
Texas Penal Code § 22.01 covers injury, threat and offensive-contact assault rather than using a separate battery label for those offenses. Bodily injury does not have to be serious: it includes physical pain, illness or impairment. The State must prove the elements of the particular offense.
Experience of Napier Law Firm, PLLC
George Napier has extensive experience in the legal field. George Napier is a former prosecutor and former Assistant District Attorney for the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office. Using this experience, he is able to better understand the strategies employed by prosecutors to try and get defendants to plead guilty to the charges that they are facing.
During the time that George Napier has served as a defense attorney, he has represented clients in many different types of assault cases.
These cases have ranged from simple assault cases to felony assault charges to aggravated assault charges to sexual assault cases. With his long history of successful representation, George Napier has the knowledge and experience necessary to protect your rights in court.
Services offered by Napier Law Firm
Napier Law Firm offers services to our clients such as free consultations, options for payment plans if a client cannot afford the entire fee at once, personalized attention to our clients and their cases, guidance through the criminal justice system, legal representation in the courtroom, and assisting clients with expunctions.
We offer these services to our clients because we believe that each one of them deserves to have their rights upheld and to have an attorney who will protect them.
Strategies and Legal Approaches Employed by a Criminal Defense Attorney
The State must prove the mental state required for the charged form of assault. Bodily-injury assault can be intentional, knowing, or reckless, so lack of an intent to injure does not by itself defeat that charge. Evidence of an accident matters if it leaves the State unable to prove the required mental state beyond a reasonable doubt.
Self-defense is a separate issue from whether the State can prove assault. The lawyer should examine the sequence of events, the force used and the requirements of §§ 9.31–9.32 before deciding which defenses the evidence supports.
Some of the strategies employed by Napier Law Firm when a client is accused of a misdemeanor or felony assault include gathering witness statements regarding the incident, records from emergency services personnel who attended to the scene, and police reports regarding the incident.
These pieces of evidence will help paint a clear picture of the incident for your attorney so that they can use the facts of the case to craft a strong defense for you.
Client Testimonials and Success Stories
Former clients of The Napier Law Firm recommend us highly for our professional and personalized approach to cases. Our clients consistently award us five stars in their reviews of our services, and George Napier has been rated as superb by former clients.
When you face assault charges, your lawyer should explain the evidence, possible defenses and risks of each available course. An acceptable result cannot be guaranteed.
Legal Qualifications and Affiliations of Napier Law Firm’s assault attorneys
The team at Napier Law Firm is well qualified, with plenty of the experience necessary to properly represent you in your assault case. George Napier himself has a proven track record of success in the courtroom and uses his time as a prosecutor to discern the strategies prosecutors will use against defendants like you. With our team in your corner, you have a much better chance of avoiding conviction and walking away from your case with a satisfactory outcome.
To learn more about the team at Napier Law Firm, you can visit our team page and view the different areas of practice that we focus on.
Our Client-Focused Approach and Personalized Attention
George Napier believes in taking a personalized approach to every case. George Napier will work with you on a one-on-one basis so that all of the details of your case are handled properly and your specific needs as a client are met. When you choose Napier Law Firm, you are choosing a lawyer who cares about representing you the right way.
Handling Assault Cases in Houston’s Legal Landscape
The city of Houston spans the counties of Harris, Fort Bend, and Montgomery. Due to this, cases occurring in a specific county might need to be handled with a different approach due to the county’s laws and regulations. Fortunately, George Napier is knowledgeable about all of the areas and counties surrounding Houston, including their specific laws.
Importance of Hiring a Skilled Assault Lawyer
Early legal review can help preserve video, messages and witness information before they are lost. Bring the charging papers and any bond conditions or protective orders to the consultation so the restrictions and next court date can be checked.
Contact Napier Law Firm Today For Legal Representation in a Pending Assault Case
When you are facing assault charges such as aggravated assault, simple assault, or domestic violence charges, then you need a law firm on your side that has extensive knowledge of criminal law and can provide you with a legal team that will tirelessly represent you in court to try and obtain a favorable outcome for your case.
You need representation from Napier Law Firm, which differentiates itself from other Houston assault lawyers by providing every client with personalized attention to best represent their interests in their case. If you have been accused of a criminal offense in Houston, especially if you have been previously convicted, then you can fill out our contact form online for a free consultation on your case.
Do not hesitate to contact Napier Law Firm today.