In the state of Illinois, every form of assault comes with consequences. And, some forms of assault come with more severe consequences than others, related to forms of assault.
Going over the consequences of assault in the state of Illinois and speaking with an experienced Schaumburg criminal defense attorney will allow you to obtain the best possible legal outcome.
What Is Assault?
The definition of “assault in Illinois” is as follows: a situation in which an individual, without any form of legal authority, knowingly engages in conduct that places another person in reasonable apprehension of receiving an imminent battery.
Just as an example, if you raise your fist at someone and walk towards them in a threatening manner, you could be convicted of assault. On the other hand, if you were on a FaceTime call, there is no imminency and therefore, no assault.
Unlike the standard “battery” charge, assault does not involve physical contact. Rather, assault involves actions that lead to the threat of harm or, alternatively, the perceived threat of harm.
Even though assault does not involve physical contact, an assault conviction can come with major consequences. These consequences can, and very likely will, affect the remainder of your life.
What Are The Consequences Of Assault In Illinois?
The consequences of assault in Illinois are as follows:
A maximum jail sentence of no more than thirty days.
- A fine of no more than $1,500.
- A criminal record that includes your “Assault” conviction.
A jail sentence can, and will, affect your life – you could lose your job, for example, or be unable to be around the people you love, for a period.
A fine, even if it happens to be relatively small, means you will lose some of the money you have earned. This is never a pleasant prospect.
Outside of those two consequences, having a criminal record can affect your ability to obtain certain jobs and to qualify for certain types of housing. This is among a variety of other, equally unpleasant, problems.
To go along with the above, you could face other, even more severe, consequences, depending on whether or not you have a criminal record and any other factors that underlie the assault.
Given these facts, if you have been charged with assault, you should contact a criminal defense attorney who can help you.
What Are The Best Defenses For Assault?
The four best defenses for assault are as follows:
- You engaged in assault as an act of self-defense.
- You did not intend to cause fear or apprehension of any sort.
- No immediacy
- You are being falsely accused, and/or there is not enough evidence that you engaged in assault.
- You were defending someone else when engaging in assault.
Every single one of the defenses outlined above can be used by you and your attorney to defend you from the assault accusations that have been levied against you.
Outside of those defenses, you and your attorney can use other, equally useful defenses that align with the facts of your case.
Get Qualified Legal Help Today
If you need representation for an assault charge, Glasgow & Olsson is uniquely qualified to help you.
Our team has helped thousands of people who have been charged with crimes in Illinois. When we take cases, we do so to win. This means we take cases to trial. We don’t arrange plea bargains unless it is in the best interest of our clients. As proactive lawyers, we fight aggressively and support our clients throughout their entire case up to and including appeals. Protecting your life and freedom is always the goal, and with our decades of experience practicing law, we know how to get results. This is why we are regularly invited to appear as a legal contributor on popular radio and news outlets, including ABC, CNN, NBC, CBS, and Fox NEWS.
When you need an attorney, experience matters.
Speak with a Chicago criminal defense attorney today to learn how our experience can help you get the results you need.