Assault

Serving Fairfield and New Haven Counties

In Connecticut, the crime of assault occurs when someone physically injures another person through an intentional, reckless, or negligent act. Connecticut divides the crime of assault into three levels, or degrees, based on the severity of the victim’s injuries, whether the defendant was acting intentionally, recklessly, or negligently, whether the crime involved a deadly weapon, and whether the victim is a member of a protected class.

If you were charged with assault in Connecticut, you need a dedicated, experienced, and tenacious assault lawyer who will carefully investigate the charges against you and mount a vigorous defense.

The Lebedevitch Law Firm, LLC, is committed to providing a vigorous legal defense in any criminal case. Led by founding attorney Stephen Lebedevitch, the Firm has earned a reputation for our fierce and tenacious advocacy and the outstanding results we achieve on behalf of our clients. To put our experience to work for you, contact us today to schedule an appointment to discuss your situation and how an assault lawyer can help.

Understanding Connecticut Assault Charges

Connecticut divides the crime of assault into three levels, or degrees.

Assault in the First Degree

Assault in the First Degree occurs when a person:

1. Acts with intent to cause serious physical injury to another person and causes such injury using a deadly weapon or dangerous instrument, or
2. Acts with intent to seriously and permanently disfigure another person, or to destroy, amputate or permanently disable a member or organ of their body, or
3. Under circumstances evincing an extreme indifference to human life, recklessly engages in conduct which creates a risk of death to another person, and thereby causes serious physical injury to another person; or
4. Acts with intent to cause serious physical injury to another person and, while aided by two or more other people actually present, causes such injury; or
5. Acts with intent to cause physical injury to another person and causes such injury to such person by discharging a firearm.

Assault in the Second Degree

Assault in the Second Degree occurs when a person:

1. Acts with intent to cause serious physical injury to another person and causes such injury, or
2. Acts with intent to cause physical injury to another person and causes such injury by means of a deadly weapon or a dangerous instrument other than the discharge of a firearm, or
3. Acts recklessly to cause serious physical injury to another person by means of a deadly weapon or a dangerous instrument, or
4. For a purpose other than lawful medical or therapeutic treatment, intentionally causes stupor, unconsciousness, or other physical impairment or injury to another person by administering to such person, without his consent, a drug, substance or preparation capable of producing the same, or
5. Is a parolee from a correctional institution and acts with intent to cause physical injury to an employee or member of the Board of Pardons and Paroles and causes such physical injury, or
6. Acts with intent to cause serious physical injury to another person by rendering that person unconscious, and without provocation by such other person causes such injury by striking the person on the head, or
7. Acts with intent to cause physical injury to another person and causes such injury by striking or kicking such person in the head while they are in a lying position.

A person can also be charged with assault in the second degree if they injure another person in a motor vehicle accident while driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, or if the victim was elderly, blind, disabled, pregnant, or has an intellectual disability.

Assault in the Third Degree

Assault in the Third Degree occurs when a person:

1. Acts with intent to cause physical injury to another person and causes such injury, or
2. Recklessly causes serious physical injury to another person, or
3. Acting with criminal negligence causes physical injury to another person by means of a deadly weapon, a dangerous instrument, or an electronic defense weapon.

Penalties for Connecticut Assault

How a Connecticut Assault Lawyer Can Help

Assault is a serious criminal charge that carries severe penalties. The Lebedevitch Law Firm vigorously defends people charged with assault. A typical assault defense will address whether the defendant intended to cause harm and the severity of the victim’s injuries. Additional defenses may include:

• Self-defense
• Defense of others
• Defense of property
• Consent
• Lack of physical contact

The Lebedevitch Law Firm defends people charged with assault in Stamford, Greenwich, New Canaan, Norwalk, Darien, Rowayton, Fairfield, Trumbull, Westport, Wilton, Weston, Danbury, New Haven, Bethany, Woodbridge, Milford, Stratford, Bridgeport, and throughout the State of Connecticut. We offer predictable flat fees in most assault defense cases.