Under Title 18 of the Pennsylvania criminal code, aggravated assault is defined as an attempt to cause serious bodily injury to another, or inducing such injury intentionally, knowingly or recklessly under circumstances manifesting extreme indifference to the value of human life.

To be convicted of aggravated assault, you must:

• Attempt to cause severe bodily harm to someone else, or knowingly, intentionally or recklessly cause serious bodily injury to someone else with extreme indifference to their life
• Attempt to cause or knowingly, intentionally, or recklessly cause bodily harm to police officers or others enumerated in the Pennsylvania Code while those officers or others are acting in the performance of their duty
• Attempt to cause or knowingly, intentionally, or recklessly cause bodily harm to someone using a deadly weapon
• Attempt to cause or knowingly or intentionally cause bodily harm to those employed by an elementary or secondary public or private school
• Physically attempt to put any of the officers listed in the Pennsylvania Code in fear of imminent and serious bodily harm
• Use tear gas or noxious gas, or a device such as a taser gun, against any officer or others listed in the Pennsylvania Code
• Attempt to cause or knowingly, intentionally, or recklessly cause bodily harm to a child who is younger than six
• Attempt to cause or knowingly, intentionally, or recklessly cause serious bodily injury to a child who is younger than 13 years old

To prove that a person committed an aggravated assault, the prosecutor must convince the jury that the defendant acted in one of the following ways under Pennsylvania law:

• Knowingly. People act knowingly when they are aware of the consequences of their acts.
• Recklessly. People act recklessly when they consciously disregard the consequences of their acts. A person can be deemed to have acted recklessly when a reasonable person in the same situation would have been aware of the risks associated with their conduct.

Serious bodily injury causes serious, permanent impairment, loss or disfigurement; or creates a substantial risk of death. Anytime your actions are likely to cause death or serious injury, you are showing extreme indifference to human life.

Aggravated assault that does not involve serious bodily injury is a second-degree felony assault charge, punishable by up to ten years in prison and a fine of up to $25,000.

If the defendant causes serious bodily injury or attempts to cause serious bodily injury, aggravated assault is a first-degree felony, punishable by a term of imprisonment of up to 20 years and a fine of up to $25,000.

Your criminal defense attorneys will evaluate the facts of your case and determine if you have a legal defense to the aggravated assault charge. Such defenses include:

• Self-defense
• Defense of another
• You did not intend to cause bodily injury

It is the job of your criminal defense lawyer to aggressively defend you against the charge. The best possible outcome and defense will be based on criminal law and the prosecutor’s evidence against you.

While you have the right to represent yourself against criminal charges, the fact remains that if you are charged with aggravated assault, it carries a penalty upon a conviction that includes a prison sentence and fines. Only an experienced attorney can best represent you.

The aggravated assault lawyers at Grace Legal have years of experience in criminal defense. They served as public defenders before becoming private practice defense lawyers. From their offices in Camp Hill, they can defend the accused in Harrisburg and all of Central Pennsylvania.