West Palm Beach Assault Charges

Have you been charged with assault?

Any action which intentionally threatens physical violence can be charged as assault under Florida law. It may be a gesture or a verbal communication, but the key requirement is that the victim would have reason to fear imminent violence. The charge of assault is often coupled with battery, in the common phrase "assault and battery," but it is important to understand the distinction between the two: in battery, illegal physical contact is accomplished. Assault is a 2nd-degree misdemeanor crime, and if you are convicted you may be fined up to $500 and spend as long as 60 days in county jail. In addition, your sentence may include community service, restitution and a restraining order against you.

Assault charges will be increased to aggravated assault, a 3rd degree felony crime, if you are accused of committing the act while using a weapon such as a knife or a gun, to threaten the alleged victim. The penalty for aggravated assault is significantly steeper: up to 5 years in prison and fines as high as $5,000. After you serve your sentence, you may have difficulty finding employment, because many companies will not hire someone with an assault conviction on their criminal record. If you have been charged with assault, you need the assistance of an aggressive West Palm Beach criminal defense attorney to protect you from the prosecution's attempts to have you proven guilty.

Contact a criminal defense lawyer in West Palm Beach today!

Come to The Law Offices of Phillip T. Ridolfo, Jr. for experienced representation on charges of assault. At my firm, your case will receive personal attention from me; I will not delegate the work to a junior attorney and when you need assistance, I will be available for you. I have over 20 years of experience in criminal defense, and I take pride in fighting to protect the legal rights of those who have been accused. When you have been charged with assault, you may feel that your case has already been decided in the minds of law enforcement and the state, but my goal is to help you have your charges dropped or reduced through careful preparation of your case and aggressive negotiations and litigation.