Ingham County Assault Defense Lawyer

Ingham County Assault Defense Lawyer


INGHAM COUNTY ASSAULT CRIMES EXPLAINED


In Ingham County and across the state of Michigan, several types of assault charges exist. Commonly, people think of the terms assault and battery together. This is because they work hand in hand. By definition, an assault is some sort of attempt to strike or cause an injury to another. If the assailant is successful in their attempt and makes contact through an intentional infliction of an act of violence, then they have also committed a battery. Assault charges can be classified as misdemeanors or felonies, depending on the circumstances of the case. Important factors that help determine what level of assault took place include whether anyone was injured, whether there was a weapon used, and/or if there is a domestic relationship of some kind between the parties. A conviction for assault can result in jail or prison time depending on the seriousness of the alleged crime. It is important to gather as much evidence as possible when preparing your defense. Make sure that you don’t make any statements to anyone as what you say can be used against you in court. Only speak to your attorney if you are questioned about the events of the incident.


THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF ASSAULT CHARGES IN INGHAM COUNTY


As discussed above, there are several factors that can determine what level of assault charges are appropriate in a given case. If you have a domestic relationship with your accuser, then you can be charged with domestic violence, another form of assault and battery. The various types of assault charges that exist within Ingham County include:


  • Assault & Battery: This is a misdemeanor charge that carries up to 93 days in jail upon conviction. This charge alleges an unconsented contact that was intended to harm the alleged victim.


  • Aggravated Assault: This is a misdemeanor charge that carries up to 1 year in jail upon conviction. This charge alleges an assault plus a resulting visible injury to the alleged victim.


  • Felonious Assault: This is a felony charge that carries up to 4 years in prison upon conviction. This charge alleges an assault with a deadly weapon of some kind. An injury is not required.


  • Assault with intent to do great bodily harm: This is a felony charge that carries up to 10 years in prison upon conviction. This charge alleges an assault with the intent to seriously harm someone, but not kill them.


  • Assault with intent to murder: This is a felony charge that carries up to life in prison upon conviction. This charge is Michigan’s attempted murder law.


  • Domestic Violence: This is a misdemeanor charge that carries up to 93 days in jail upon conviction. This charge alleges an assault with someone that the defendant has a domestic relationship. This can be a significant other, family member, or roommate.


  • Domestic violence 2nd offense: This is a misdemeanor charge that carries up to 1 year in jail upon conviction. This charge alleges an act of domestic violence after the defendant was previously convicted of domestic violence.


  • Domestic violence 3rd offense: This is a felony charge that carries up to 5 years in prison. This charge alleges an act of domestic violence after the defendant was previously convicted at least twice of domestic violence.


If you are being accused of any of the charges listed above, then make sure you get in contact with an experienced criminal defense attorney as soon as possible.


INGHAM COUNTY COURTS THAT OVERSEE ASSAULT CASES


In the Ingham County area, all assault cases are first heard in one of the three district courts depending on where the crime is alleged to have taken place:


  • 54A District Court: This District Court is located in Lansing and it oversees cases that were alleged to occur in Lansing.


  • 54B District Court: This court is located in East Lansing and it oversees cases that were alleged to occur in East Lansing.


  • 55th District Court: This court is located in Mason and it oversees cases that were alleged to occur anywhere in Ingham County except for East Lansing and Lansing.


If your assault charge is a misdemeanor, then the District Court your case is assigned to will be the only court that you deal with for your case. If there is a reason to appeal a district court judge’s decision, then your case may end up in Circuit Court. If your assault charge is a felony, then District Court is the first stop, before potentially ending up in Circuit Court. In District Court, the prosecutor’s role is to demonstrate that enough probable cause exists to continue the case. If the prosecutor proves enough probable cause, then the case is then “bound over” and sent to the Ingham County Circuit Court – 30th Circuit Court, for all future proceedings. If the prosecutor is unable to demonstrate sufficient probable cause to the District Court judge, then the case can be dismissed.


Several Ingham County Circuit Court judges may be assigned to your case if it makes it that far. Make sure you have an attorney who has the necessary experience in front of all of these judges and further understands what specifically needs to be done in your assault case to help you be successful.


WHAT IF I HAVE SPECIFIC QUESTIONS ABOUT MY CASE?


If you are facing an allegation of assault anywhere in Ingham County, then it is important to speak to an experienced criminal defense attorney immediately. Websites such as this can be a great place to start, but the information found online should never serve as an alternative to an experienced attorney’s advice. If you have specific legal questions, then the attorneys at Zeineh Law are available to you now.


THE ZEINEH LAW DIFFERENCE


For a prosecutor to be successful, he or she must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that you intended to commit or did commit an assault on another without legal consent. Was there a mistake in what occurred? Is your accuser lying about what happened? Were you defending yourself? Does any video evidence exist? It is important that you are able to not only answer these questions but back your claims up with as much evidence as possible. An investigation done from the defense side is the best way to answer these and other necessary questions in preparing your defense. Just as a prosecutor will use his or her resources to build a case against you, you can use your resources to build your defense in the same way. At Zeineh Law, we pride ourselves on not limiting your defense by simply trying to explain the prosecutor’s version of events. We defend cases by going on offense, by advancing your version of events based on evidence obtained in our private investigations.


ZEINEH LAW PROUDLY OFFERS A FREE CONSULTATION


If you are facing a criminal charge for assault in or around Ingham County, then it is important to speak to an experienced Lansing criminal defense attorney immediately. At Zeineh Law, we are proud to offer FREE consultations to all prospective clients. If you are in the process of choosing your attorney or are looking for an honest assessment of your legal situation, then our attorneys are available to help you now. Call us at (517) 292-7000 or contact us online. Our advice is free, and our conversations will always be protected by the attorney-client privilege. Make your first choice towards freedom with a consultation with an experienced criminal defense attorney at Zeineh Law today.

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