Assault in any form is a severe charge all over the world. A conviction typically follows, resulting in civil liability or a criminal charge. Every region has its laws, and the state of Tennessee is no exception.
Assault in Tennessee may be classified as either a felony or a misdemeanor usually defined by the severity of the crime at hand. And penalties range from fines to prison sentences.
Touching someone inappropriately, shoving or hitting someone, and even spitting on a person may lead to assault charges. Tennessee assault laws fall into several categorisations defined by the type and seriousness of the committed offence.
Tennessee Assault Laws and Charges
Simple Assault Charges
They are often considered misdemeanors under class A or B. You face Class A charges when you intentionally cause bodily injury to someone or instill fear of imminent physical harm. The penalty is a jail term of up to twelve months or a maximum fine of $2500.
On the other hand, a Class B misdemeanor is an offence that involves physical contact considered offensive. Since there was no actual harm, the punishment is less severe. The convicted pays a fine of up to $5000 or go to jail for a period not exceeding six months. Typically, a Class A or B offender receives only one of the two, but the circumstances vary, and you may find a conviction, including both sentences.
The accused may be asked by the court to pay restitution to indemnify the plaintiff, especially if there was an injury.
Aggravated Assault Charges
Due to recklessness
Imagine you’re trying to get to the exit of a crowded hall. You accidentally shove someone out of the way who falls and is wounded as a result. In this case, you didn’t have the intention to harm your accuser, but it happened all the same.
One faces this Class D felony if they perform an act that causes physical injury to another, or leads to their death. Using or displaying a dangerous weapon also falls under this category. A 2-12 year prison sentence is punishment for a reckless aggravated assault charge.
Intentional aggravated assault
Termed a Class C felony charge, it comes with a 3-15 years prison term conviction. One is guilty of this charge if they:
- fail to protect a minor from assault or abuse
- commit an act that leads to serious bodily harm or death
- Display or use of a deadly weapon
Domestic Violence
If there is a familial or household relationship between the plaintiff and defendant, the act is termed a domestic assault. In Tennessee, a maximum fine of $200 is imposed if the accused is found guilty. Such cases are delicate to deal with and moreover require processing crucial details. Therefore, experts at thefloridatriallawyer.com, recommend hiring a reliable domestic battery attorney before the situation slips out of your hand. Here, you may need to cooperate with the lawyer in order to process the shared information.
Final Take
The Internet is an excellent source to familiarize yourself with laws about the assault. The aptly mentioned types of assault charges above could tarnish an otherwise clean criminal record. But if you find yourself facing assault charges, ensure you get proper representation. All in all, you must understand the statutory interpretation around assault charges if you live or plan to visit Tennessee.
