Assault Defense Attorneys in Detroit, Michigan

Being investigated for or charged with assault can be a scary and stressful experience for anyone. You may have dozens of questions on your mind: “Will I go to jail?” “What happens next?” and “How will the assault charges affect my life?”  

Our experienced assault defense attorneys at Detroit Legal Group PLLC can answer these and other questions. You are not alone—and just because you are facing assault charges does not mean you will be convicted. Our attorneys in Detroit, Michigan, will aggressively advocate for your rights and fight to have the charges reduced or dropped. We defend clients facing assault charges throughout Michigan, including Warren, Dearborn, and Southfield.  

Assault Charges in Michigan 

Michigan law defines “assault” as an attempt to cause bodily injury to another person. An example of assault is attempting to hit someone with a hand or object. The person who attempts to cause bodily injury to another person must act knowingly and intentionally for assault charges to apply. In other words, your actions should cause a reasonable person to be in fear of bodily harm to be charged with assault.  

There are different types of assault charges in Michigan, including: 

• Simple assault. Simple assault is defined as an attempt to cause bodily injury to another person. The person who commits simple assault does not use weapons of any kind, and the victim does not suffer injury. Simple assault is a misdemeanor in Michigan and carries a less serious penalty than a felony.  

• Aggravated assault. In Michigan, aggravated assault is a battery that causes serious injury to another person. The offense does not involve the use of weapons, while the person who commits it does not intend to seriously injure or kill the victim. Aggravated assault is typically prosecuted as a misdemeanor.  

• Felonious assault. Felonious assault is also known as assault with a deadly weapon in Michigan. As the name implies, the offense is prosecuted as a felony and involves the use of any weapon or object that can cause serious injury or death.  

According to the Michigan State Police Criminal Justice Information Center, the five-year average of aggravated and felonious assaults committed in Michigan between 2017 and 2021 was nearly 33,000. 

Possible Penalties for Assault 

Depending on the facts of your case, your criminal record, and the harm done to the victim, an assault conviction could result in time behind bars. However, imprisonment is not the only penalty associated with the assault conviction. The severity of penalties also depends on whether the offense is prosecuted as a misdemeanor or felony.  

An assault conviction can affect your life in significant ways, which is why you’ll need to contact a skilled assault defense attorney to help you get the best outcome for your situation.  

Possible Defenses to an Assault Charge 

Possible defenses to an assault charge depends on the facts of your particular case. No two assault incidents are the same, which is why the defenses that may be available to an individual facing the charges will vary from one case to another. Some of the most common defenses to assault charges include: 

• Self-defense 

• Defense of property 

• Defense of others 

• Duress 

• Consent 

• Necessity 

• Lack of mental state 

At Detroit Legal Group PLLC, our assault defense attorneys in Detroit, Michigan, have the necessary skills to put up a strong defense on your behalf. We stand up for the rights of those accused of assault and other crimes and are dedicated to providing compassionate legal representation to each client.