Trust a Former Bronx Prosecutor to Fight Assault Charges

Simple assault is usually a second-class misdemeanor and carries a maximum prison sentence of up to two years and maximum fines of up to $5000. It is defined as intentionally and recklessly causing bodily harm or injury to another person, or negligently causing bodily harm or injury to another person with a deadly weapon. It can also be defined as threatening to cause bodily harm or injury to someone or intentionally sticking a hypodermic needle into a police officer or prison employee.

If the victim is a child under 12 years old in a simple assault case, then the crime upgrades to a first-degree misdemeanor. The penalties are doubled as a result, bumping the maximum prison sentence up to five years and the maximum fines up to $10,000.

Think of aggravated assault as a step above simple assault, where both the actions of the crime and consequences are far more serious. The most apparent difference between these two crimes, though, is that any physical threats or attacks directed at government officials, police officers, or other public servants is considered aggravated assault. This includes firefighters, sheriffs, district attorneys, parking enforcement officers, public defenders, and even teachers and school employees. Any bodily harm or injury inflicted on a child younger than six years old is also considered aggravated assault.

Aggravated assault charges are usually either first or second-degree felonies. For second-degree felony charges, aggravated assault penalties carry a maximum prison sentence of 10 years and fines of up to $25,000. For first-degree felony charges, the maximum fine amount remains the same, but the maximum prison sentence is doubled.

In Pennsylvania, misdemeanor domestic violence is defined as bodily harm or injury or the threat of bodily harm or injury with a deadly weapon as carried out by the victim’s spouse, former spouse, parent, or legal guardian. This definition also includes people with whom the victim has a child, people who are living with or formerly lived with the victim as a spouse, guardian, or parent, or people in the role of a spouse, guardian, or parent to the victim.

There are a number of crimes that qualify as a misdemeanor domestic violence charge, including simple assault, harassment, reckless endangerment, and many more. Contact Attorney Paul S. Missan to learn more about what other crimes qualify.

In Pennsylvania, harassment can range from repeated communication at unusual hours, repeated anonymous communication, using lewd or threatening phrases to address someone, and more. The most minor harassment conviction is a summary offense, where convicted offenders face a maximum jail sentence of 90 days and a maximum fine of $300. It is also a crime to harass a child in the state of Pennsylvania.

The penalties for harassment range widely depending on the nature of the crime. For example, convicted first-time offenders typically face a summary offense, which includes maximum penalties of a 90-day jail sentence and a maximum $300 fine. However, more serious charges like 'M3' harassment charges will garner harsher penalties like a maximum jail sentence of one year and maximum fines of $2500.

The state of Pennsylvania defines terroristic threats as something that causes a public inconvenience or causes people to evacuate a public place due to the threat of terrorizing someone else or a group of people. An example of this is someone falsely shouting that there is a bomb in the vicinity. However, prosecutors must prove that there was an intent to scare or harm others by making claims like this.

These threats are considered a first-degree misdemeanor. and may also be forced to pay restitution to the public area you terrorized, or any police or fire departments that had to respond to the threat.

You are committing criminal trespassing in Pennsylvania if you enter a premise without having the license or privilege to do so. Breaking and entering a locked building is also considered criminal trespassing. Charges can range from misdemeanors to felonies depending on the offender's past criminal history and the severity of the current charges.

False report charges can be broken down into two categories in Pennsylvania: fictitious reports and false incriminations of another person. The former refers to reporting fictional incidents that never happened or false information about an incident you really know nothing about. This is considered a third-degree misdemanor. The latter, on the other hand, is when you knowingly tell a police officer that someone else committed a crime with the intention of framing them. This is a more serious crime, so it is considered a second-degree misdemeanor. Making a false or forged written police statement is also considered a second-degree misdemeanor fasle report charge.

PFA orders are very much like restraining orders, and violating them can bring about serious consequences. Having these violation charges brought against you can be tough, as there is no requirement to prove the crime beyond a reasonable doubt. This gives the victim a lot of leverage, which can be detrimental if they are not telling the truth.

Violating these orders can result in jail time as long as six months, as well as criminal charges. You may even be restricted from seeing your children or returning home to gather your belongings.