In Pennsylvania, Violent Crimes such as simple assault are treated seriously. Violent Crimes statutes such as simple assault exist for the purpose of keeping you safe from being attacked. While some laws protect your property, simple assault statutes protect your well-being and keep you safe from unwanted attacks. the Castle Doctrine You commit simple assault when you attempt or intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly cause bodily injury to another, when you negligently cause bodily injury to another with a deadly weapon, attempt by physical menace to put another in fear of imminent serious bodily injury, or conceal or attempt to conceal a hypodermic needle on your person and intentionally or knowingly penetrate a law enforcement officer or an officer or an employee of a correctional institution, county jail or prison, detention facility or mental hospital during the course of an arrest or any search of a person. Simple assault is a second degree misdemeanor. If simple assault is committed in a fight or scuffle that was entered into by mutual consent, it is a misdemeanor of the third degree. If simple assault is committed against a child under 12 years old, committed by someone who is 18 years of age or older, it is then a first degree misdemeanor.
There are several different key factors to remember when dealing with a simple assault charge. You may be charged with simple assault if you try to punch someone in the face and your punch misses. Domestic VIolence Charges It does not matter whether you successfully assault someone, but rather that you intended to hurt someone. Typically, injuries are minor or nonexistent when dealing with simple assault. The degree of injuries caused to a victim could be the difference between simple assault and aggravated assault. Many different acts can be defined as simple assault. Acts vary in degree of severity, such as grabbing someone’s arm and threatening them to punching someone in the face. When it comes to threats, it is important to remember that not just any type of threat will result in simple assault charges. A threat is simple assault if the actor who made the threat is able to immediately carry out the threat and has taken steps to do so.
It is important to consult an attorney in order to handle the charges in the best manor possible. Simple assault charges can still result in jail time. It is important to establish with an attorney whether your actions that resulted in simple assault charges were intentional, knowingly, reckless, or possibly accidental. It is also important to factor in what type of injury, if any, the victim sustained from the incident.
