Georgetown Assault Lawyer

Skilled Defense for Assault Charges in Williamson County, TX

Texas law treats assault as a broad category, ranging from minor altercations to violent crimes involving deadly weapons. Depending on the circumstances, you could be facing a misdemeanor or a felony, both of which have lasting consequences.

Attorney Ryan H. Deck, a Board-Certified Criminal Defense Lawyer, has defended clients throughout Georgetown and Williamson County for nearly two decades. His understanding of Texas assault laws and trial experience gives clients a trusted advocate who knows how local courts handle these cases.

Types of Assault Charges in Texas

Under the Texas Penal Code, Chapter 22, the severity of an assault charge depends on the act itself, the alleged victim, and any aggravating factors. Common types include:

• Simple Assault: Intentionally or recklessly causing bodily injury, threatening harm, or making unwanted physical contact. Usually charged as a misdemeanor.
• Family Violence: Assault involving a family or household member, or someone in a dating relationship. Repeat convictions carry enhanced penalties.
• Aggravated Assault: Causing serious bodily injury or using a deadly weapon. Classified as a felony with significant prison exposure.
• Assault on a Public Servant: Attacking police, firefighters, or emergency personnel leads to heightened felony penalties.
• Deadly Conduct: Recklessly engaging in behavior that places others in danger, often involving a firearm or vehicle.

Penalties for Assault in Texas

The punishment for assault depends on the nature of the assault and whether aggravating factors are involved:

• Class C Misdemeanor: Fine up to $500 for threats or offensive contact without injury.
• Class A Misdemeanor: Up to 1 year in jail and $4,000 fine for causing bodily injury.
• Third-Degree Felony: 2–10 years in prison and up to $10,000 fine for aggravated assault or public servant assault.
• Second-Degree Felony: 2–20 years in prison when serious bodily injury or a deadly weapon is involved.
• First-Degree Felony: 5–99 years or life in prison for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon causing serious injury.

Consequences of an Assault Conviction

An assault conviction can affect every part of your life — even beyond fines or jail time:

• Permanent criminal record: Limits career and housing opportunities.
• Loss of firearm rights: Felony assault convictions can permanently revoke your right to own or carry guns.
• Restraining orders: Protective orders may restrict contact with family or your own home.
• Probation and financial penalties: Community supervision, service, and restitution may apply.
• Reputation harm: Public record of assault can follow you for years.

Defense Strategies for Assault Charges

Every case is unique, and the best defense depends on the circumstances. Common defense strategies include:

Self-Defense

Texas law allows the use of force when someone reasonably believes it is immediately necessary to protect themselves from bodily injury. In many assault cases, the incident begins with a confrontation, and the police arrest the person who appears to have “won” or who was standing when officers arrived, not necessarily the one who started the conflict.  

A strong self-defense argument requires careful investigation. We analyze injuries, witness statements, 911 calls, video footage, and the history between parties. If evidence shows that you were attacked first, had no safe way to retreat, or believed serious harm was imminent, we will use that to fight for dismissal, acquittal, or reduced charges.

False Allegations

Assault charges often arise in emotionally charged situations — breakups, divorces, child custody disputes, or conflicts fueled by anger or revenge. In these situations, accusations can be exaggerated or entirely fabricated. Our role is to expose motive, inconsistencies, and factual inaccuracies through cross-examination, digital evidence, and timelines that challenge the credibility of the allegation.

We look for common indicators of false reporting, such as delayed reporting, inconsistent statements, lack of physical evidence, or communication suggesting ulterior motives. When false accusations are identified early, we can push for case dismissal or negotiate from a position of strength.

Lack of Intent

To convict someone of assault, the prosecution must prove intent, meaning that the act was done knowingly, intentionally, or recklessly. Many cases stem from accidents, falls, defensive reactions, or contact that happened during a chaotic situation. If contact was incidental or not meant to cause harm, the legal threshold for assault may not be met.

We build lack-of-intent defenses using context: witness testimony, physical evidence, body-cam footage, or expert medical review to show the event was accidental. Even in heated environments like bars or sporting events, lack of intent can be the difference between a conviction and a not-guilty verdict. When intent is unclear, we push aggressively for dismissal or reduced charges.

Mistaken Identity

Fast-moving, chaotic situations often produce unreliable eyewitness accounts. Stress, low lighting, intoxication, and crowd environments make misidentification common, yet many cases rely heavily on witness statements alone. We challenge identifications using police procedure records, lineup protocols, video footage, and forensic evidence (or lack thereof).

We also examine whether the accused matches descriptions given at the scene and whether police influenced witness memory. If there is no clear proof linking you to the incident, such as fingerprints, video, or injuries consistent with the allegations, we highlight those weaknesses to create reasonable doubt. A single flawed ID should not cost someone their future.

Consent or Mutual Agreement

In some situations, physical contact occurs through mutual participation, such as sports, sparring, mutual fights, or heated arguments, in which both parties engage willingly. If both sides consented or contributed to the escalation, the conduct may fall outside the legal definition of assault. Texas law recognizes that voluntary confrontation can reduce culpability or negate criminal responsibility entirely. Not every physical altercation is a crime — context matters.

Insufficient Evidence

Prosecutors must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, and many assault charges lack reliable evidence. Injuries may be minor or inconsistent with the story. Witness accounts may conflict. Medical documentation may be vague. If the state cannot clearly prove what happened, how, and why, we push to suppress or exclude weak evidence.

We scrutinize everything: police reporting errors, improper statements, missing footage, biased witnesses, and forensic inconsistencies. Many assault cases collapse under scrutiny when the evidence is thin. When proof is weak, we seek a complete dismissal, reduction to lesser charges, or alternative resolutions that protect your record.