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Fort Worth defense attorneys who take assault on an officer charges seriously and fight for your rights across Tarrant County and North Texas. Our team has defended thousands of assault on an officer cases and delivered results our clients can point to.
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An assault charge that involves a law enforcement officer rarely tells the whole story on paper. Sometimes the officer’s own conduct came across as aggressive or provocative. Sometimes the accused was under the influence when things escalated. Whatever the facts of your night, you want a Fort Worth attorney who has actually handled assault on an officer cases in Tarrant County guiding your next move.
Once these charges land, a capable defense lawyer earns their value by digging into the details: interviewing the witnesses who were there, pulling apart the police report line by line, and standing beside you in the courtroom when the case is called.
Under Texas Penal Code §22.01(b), an assault happens when a person intentionally, recklessly, or knowingly causes bodily injury to someone else. The same definition reaches conduct that threatens another person with immediate bodily harm, or physical contact a reasonable person would read as offensive or provocative.
Those assault rules cover incidents with law enforcement officers, and they also cover aggravated assault. Under Texas Penal Code §22.02(a)(1)-(2), an assault becomes aggravated when either of the following is true:
An ordinary assault charge does not always require physical contact, but aggravated assault usually turns on serious bodily injury caused by the assault. Texas Penal Code §1.07(46) defines serious bodily injury as harm that creates a substantial risk of death, actually causes death, produces serious permanent disfigurement, or brings about prolonged loss or impairment of the function of any bodily organ or member.
Most of the time a standard assault charge is filed as a Class A misdemeanor under Texas Penal Code §22.01(b)(1). In Fort Worth that level of case is prosecuted by the Tarrant County Criminal District Attorney’s Office and heard in the Tarrant County Criminal Courts. The charge frequently climbs to a third-degree felony, though, when any of the following applies:
A third-degree felony carries a prison term of two to ten years and a fine of up to $10,000. In every one of these situations, the raised charge depends on the accused knowing the victim was a public servant, security guard, or emergency services worker.
Texas Penal Code §22.01(d) tells us the law presumes that knowledge when the other person was wearing a distinctive uniform and/or badge tied to their official duties.
Aggravated assault, by contrast, is a second-degree felony in Texas. It can be pushed up to a first-degree felony in specific situations, such as when the accused is a public servant acting in that role, the alleged victim is a public servant acting officially, or the injured person is a security officer on the job.
For aggravated assault, Texas Penal Code §12.33 sets a second-degree felony at two to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000. A first-degree felony conviction can mean life imprisonment and a $10,000 fine. Felony cases at this level are heard in the Tarrant County Criminal District Courts at the Tim Curry Criminal Justice Center on West Belknap Street in downtown Fort Worth, and a felony arrest usually starts with booking at the Tarrant County Jail.
Facing an assault on an officer charge is a heavy thing to carry. It is easy to feel unsure of what comes next and boxed in on your options. Sitting down with a seasoned lawyer who has worked Fort Worth assault on an officer cases changes that, because you build the defense together instead of guessing at it alone.
Trying to handle a case like this without a lawyer can put your freedom on the line. Put your defense in the hands of a capable Fort Worth Assault on an Officer Lawyer who will push hard on your behalf in Tarrant County court. Reach out whenever you are ready, the sooner the better.
A seasoned Texas Assault on an Officer Lawyer who defends these charges brings real depth across a wide range of penal code provisions, including:
The outcomes below speak louder than any promise we could make
Felony assault charge fully dismissed after successfully arguing the client, a passenger, acted in documented self-defense during the arrest.
Felony Assault on an Officer reduced to a lower-level misdemeanor of resisting arrest, challenging the officer's excessive use of force claim.
Jury returned a Not Guilty Verdict by showing the client's actions were a non-criminal reaction to the force used, not an intentional assault.
Case dismissed after filing a successful Brady motion that revealed critical, exculpatory evidence concerning the arresting officer's history.
Client's indictment was rejected by the Grand Jury after presenting evidence of the client suffering a non-criminal medical episode during the incident.
Secured Deferred Adjudication for the client, successfully preventing a permanent, career-jeopardizing felony conviction on their record.
Experience, expertise, and results you can trust
Texas Board of Legal Specialization certified in criminal law
Available around the clock for urgent matters
Over 25 years of defense experience
Thousands of successful case outcomes
In an assault on an officer case, the early hours matter. Reach out now for a free consultation and we will start building your Fort Worth defense right away.
