New Jersey Criminal Defense Lawyer Anthony N. Palumbo
The legal definition of aggravated assault is an assault that is coupled with aggravating circumstances. Aggravating circumstances include a deadly weapon, an explosion, serious bodily injury, injury to a police officer, and a number of other circumstances as well. Aggravated assault is a crime in which resulting charges, and can lead to second, third, or fourth degree aggravated assault charges. A recent example of aggravated assault took place in Camden, New Jersey when a homeless man beat his benefactor in the head with a gardening tool. The homeless man was convicted on charges of robbery, aggravated assault and weapons offenses after he attacked the 71-year-old elderly woman who he was staying with. The man came up behind her with a gardening tool, fractured her skull and subsequently escaped with almost $2,000. When the attack took place, the man had been living with the victim and her family for almost a year.
In New Jersey, a person can be charged with second degree aggravated assault if they attempt to cause serious bodily injury to another, or cause such injury purposely or knowingly or under circumstances manifesting extreme indifference to the value of human life, or recklessly cause such injury. N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1(b). Thus, what normally would have been a simple assault becomes aggravated assault when coupled with the aggravated circumstance of serious bodily injury. Serious bodily injury is an injury that creates a big risk of death or causes serious, permanent disfigurement or harm to a person’s bodily function. In the case above, beating the woman in the head with a pipe and causing a skull fracture most likely constitutes serious bodily injury. While second degree aggravated assault carries up to 10 years in prison, the man above was charged with multiple crimes, and faces up to 21 years in prison.
For more information on Aggravated Assault in New Jersey visit my website Anthony N. Palumbo, New Jersey Criminal Defense attorney at www.palumbo-renaud.com.
I am Anthony N. Palumbo of the law firm Palumbo & Renaud an aggressive Criminal Defense Attorney in New Jersey with over thirty-five (35) years of experience defending clients accused of a crime. I am a former county prosecutor, municipal court prosecutor, current public defender and have my own private practice. I know what to expect from judges, prosecutors and the police to successfully defend my clients against their charges. I have a reputation of consistent favorable results and outcomes for clients built on my skill and knowledge of both sides of the law. Contact me today toll free at 1-866-664-8118 for a free consultation. I will be happy to help you and answer your questions.
