First-degree assault is one of the most serious domestic violence charges in New York state and carries a heavy set of penalties. If you have a felony conviction on your record, the charge will affect virtually every aspect of your life going forward.
What is first-degree assault?
First-degree assault is commonly associated with domestic violence charges. In order to charge you with first-degree assault, the prosecution must accuse you of one or more of the following:
- Attacking someone with the intent of causing serious injuries
- Assaulting someone with a deadly weapon like a knife or a gun
- Attacking someone with the intent of causing disability or actually disabling the person
- Amputating a limb or damaging a person’s internal organs
- Recklessly endangering another person and causing serious injuries
- Physically injuring another person during the course of the incident
If your spouse or partner has accused you of domestic violence, you might want to hire a criminal defense attorney. An attorney could help you fight off the charges.
How could an attorney help you?
A felony conviction doesn’t just come with incarceration. You’ll also have a felony on your record for the rest of your life, making it difficult to get a job, secure a loan or even go to college.
An attorney could present the best possible defense and potentially get the charges reduced. Even if you get convicted, you might not end up with a felony on your record. You might also be able to clear your name if your spouse is falsely accusing you of abuse during a child custody case.
