Salem Assault Lawyer

Salem Assault Attorney

Learning that you are being charged with an assault crime in Oregon can be a terrifying experience. You will have to face the fact that the criminal justice system is not here to protect you, and the prosecution assigned to your case will take their job very seriously. For this reason, you need a Salem assault lawyer who will do everything in their power to protect your rights and freedom.

At the Law Office of Amy L. Bingham, our criminal defense attorney has in-depth knowledge of the surrounding legal procedures and laws that may affect an assault case in the state of Oregon. Should a court trial become necessary in your case, having an experienced and highlyskilled defense attorney on your side will be of paramount importance to the security of your future. This is not the time to defend yourself. Contact our office instead.

Defining Assault in Salem, Oregon

In Salem, Oregon, assault is a serious criminal charge that can come with extreme penalties should a conviction be successful in your case. Assault charges are typically broken down into four separate degrees. Each degree can vary in severity and comes with its own set of punishments. The four degrees of assault charges in Oregon include:

Assault 1. An individual commits assault in the first degree if they take any of the following actions:

• Cause serious bodily injury to another individual with intention while using a dangerous or deadly weapon

• Cause physical injury to a child under the age of six with intention or while knowing exactly what they are doing

• Commit a second-degree assault against a pregnant woman

• Cause serious physical injury to another individual in a reckless, knowing, or intentional manner while operating a motorized vehicle under the influence of certain substances and:
  • Have at least three previous DUI convictions within the last 10 years in any jurisdiction
  • Have been previously convicted of criminally negligent homicide, manslaughter, or first, second, or third-degree assault
  • The previous conviction involved driving a motorized vehicle

Assault 2. An individual commits assault in the second degree if they:

• Knowingly or intentionally cause serious bodily injury to another individual

• Cause physical injury to another individual while using a deadly or dangerous weapon with knowledge or intent

• Cause serious physical harm or injury to another individual due to reckless behavior with a deadly weapon under circumstances that demonstrate a severe indifference to a human life

It is important to note that under assault laws, there is no difference between causing a minor injury with a dangerous or deadly weapon and seriously injuring or harming another individual. This means that a second-degree assault charge can arise from something as minor as bruising someone with a pipe or something more serious, like breaking someone’s bones.

In general terms, any bodily injury caused by an object that is considered a deadly weapon can result in second-degree assault charges.

Assault 3. These charges can result from the following situations:

• Causing injury to a child under the age of 10 in an intentional or knowing way

• Causing serious physical injury to another individual in a reckless manner under circumstances that show an indifference to human life

• Causing serious physical injury in a reckless manner while using a dangerous or deadly weapon

• Causing injury to an emergency service provider, such as a public transit driver, taxi driver, or highway flagger, in a reckless, intentional, or knowing manner

Assault 4. These charges can arise from circumstances that include the following:

• An individual causing serious physical harm due to criminal negligence in a car accident

• An individual causing physical injury by means of a deadly weapon with reckless behavior, intent, or knowledge

FAQs

Contact Our Salem Assault Lawyer Today

A successful conviction in an assault case can have lasting impacts on the rest of your life. Even if you are not convicted, your reputation can come under fire for merely being accused of these charges. The faster you act to retain legal support, the more your attorney can do to protect your rights, future, and freedom. You can trust the criminal defense attorney at the Law Office of Amy L. Bingham to fight for you every step of the way.

If you are facing assault charges in Salem, Oregon, contact the Law Office of Amy L. Bingham today to learn more about our services and to set up an initial consultation with our team.