A battery charge – known as simple or aggravated assault in Berks County – can turn your life upside down. If you’re convicted, you could face employment challenges and a negative impact on your personal life. Knowing these implications of a conviction is often stressful, leading to additional worry and frustration.
You don’t need to bear this weight alone, however. At McKenzie Law Firm, P.C., we’re proud to provide legal services to those in need of an advocate. As your legal team, we can review our case and explain potential next steps. We’re here to protect your rights and fight for your future.
A battery defense lawyer from our team can provide you with the following services if we take you on as a client:
There are several defenses we can rely on in a battery case. Some defensive arguments not noted here may apply, as the arguments we use hinge on the specifics of your case. We may argue:
To prepare for the courtroom and sentencing negotiations, we can gather various forms of evidence, including:
Plea deals often have a bad reputation. This is because plea deals require the defendant (the person charged with a crime) to admit guilt. Admitting guilt, at first glance, sounds completely counterintuitive.
However, in some battery cases, pleading guilty is the best way to control outcomes. For example, if the prosecution has an insurmountable amount of evidence, a defendant can plead guilty, allowing their lawyer to enter settlement negotiations. These negotiations could reduce prison time and avoid a potentially uncertain trial.
At McKenzie Law Firm, PLLC, we will never enter a plea deal without your consent. However, we’ll let you know if we believe a plea deal makes sense for your case. Then, we can negotiate with prosecutors to work towards reducing your penalties.
Testimonials from our criminal defense clients provide an even clearer picture of what it’s like to work with McKenzie Law Firm, PLLC:
In Bucks County, battery isn’t technically a crime. Instead, the term battery, which typically refers to someone physically assaulting someone else, is broken into two crimes: simple assault and aggravated assault. These crimes carry their own penalties and qualifying factors.
Under 18 Pa. C.S. § 2701(a), simple assault includes the following cases:
Typically, simple assault is punishable by a second-degree misdemeanor. However, caveats apply, including:
Aggravated assault is like simple assault but focuses on cases that involve serious injuries. These are the instances that qualify as aggravated assault under 18 Pa. C.S. § 2702(a):
The complete list of public employees is too long to include here. However, some examples include the following
Aggravated assault is either a first or second-degree felony, depending on the specifics of the case.
In Berks County, the punishments associated with a crime are determined through a grading system. This system evaluates several factors, including:
This means that you can’t predict the potential sentencing outcomes of a battery case until a judicial review takes place. However, generally, those charged with aggravated assault will face far more severe penalties than those charged with simple assault. Both crimes can result in jail or prison time.
Remember, a criminal charge is not a conviction. As a resident of Bucks County, you still have several rights, including:
The existence of these rights means that you still have the opportunity to fight for your innocence or a reduced sentence. Our firm’s battery defense lawyer in Berks County can help you exercise these rights.
The sooner you contact our offices, the sooner we can gather evidence and build your defense. Contact our offices today for a case evaluation. During this meeting, we can discuss your goals and explain exactly what we can do for you.
