Assault on an officer under Texas law goes back to the misdemeanor definition, which is intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly causing bodily injury. When someone tries to cause bodily injury to a police officer, the charge is a third-degree felony instead of a Class A misdemeanor. This charge could also include several other public servants who could potentially be assaulted while on duty.
If you have been accused of assaulting someone in this line of work, contact a Fort Worth assault on an officer lawyer that could fight endlessly on your behalf. Work with a skilled assault lawyer who may have experience in serious cases such as an officer assault case.
Public Servants Who are Protected Under Texas Code
The term public servant is used in the Texas Code and includes a person elected, appointed, employed, or otherwise designated as the following:
- Officer
- Government agent
- Emergency service employee
- Grand Juror
- Peace officer, such as a probation officer
Due to the nature of many of these public servants positions, an injury may be a high possibility.
Severity of an Assault on an Officer Offense
Assault on an officer or public official is serious. The same behavior that a person might commit on an individual who is not a public servant merits a third-degree charge if it is committed on a public servant. The law states that a person may only be charged with a misdemeanor in the first instance but may have a felony for the other situation. The third-degree charge may come with a punishment of a minimum of two years to ten years in prison and up to $10,000 in fines.
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Difference Between Assault on an Officer and a Basic Assault Charge
The only difference between assaulting an officer and other assault charges is the plaintiff is working in a public servant capacity. If someone gets into a fight with an off-duty police officer in a bar, the fact that the person is a police officer during the daytime does not make it a public servant case. The third-degree offense comes from the defendant knowingly injuring a public servant, and if they do not then it may be charged as a regular assault. A Fort Worth assault on an officer lawyer could know the difference between these two charges and potentially use it to build a defense.
Judgment in a Prosecution
Cases regarding an assault on a public servant may be prosecuted differently because prosecutors work every day with the police officers. Most of the police officers have been witnesses for the state’s attorneys and they may have a relationship with them.
The prosecutors may not be inclined to be lenient with the defendant, because of the threat of violence presented against police officers. A talented attorney may need to tackle the case more aggressively and expect more resistance to getting the defendant in a good position moving forward.
Contacting a Fort Worth Assault on an Officer Attorney
Dealing with the repercussions of an officer assault accusation could be stressful, especially by yourself. By reaching out to a seasoned assault attorney who may know a suitable way to handle a case such as this, you could be helping to defend your reputation. Contact a Fort Worth assault on an officer lawyer today that could begin working on your case as soon as possible.
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