Ocean City, MD Assault and Battery Attorneys

Experienced Attorneys Representing Clients Accused of Assault in Ocean City, Maryland

When an argument gets out of hand and escalates to violence, the criminal charges could be much worse than you expect. A conviction on assault charges can come with a long prison sentence, and a violent crime on your record can alienate you from friends and family. With the help of an Ocean City criminal defense lawyer, you can contest an assault charge in court and take steps to avoid the disruptive effects of a conviction.

Whether you have been accused of misdemeanor or felony assault, the Law Offices of Murphy & Price LLP can protect your best interests. Our attorneys have over 50 years of combined experience in criminal defense, which has given us a clear perspective on how to strategize for our clients. When you work with our firm, we will investigate the alleged act of assault from all angles, looking for mitigating circumstances and possible defenses.

Assault in the Second Degree

Second-degree assault is a misdemeanor crime in Maryland. If convicted of this offense, you could be incarcerated for no more than 10 years and fined up to $2,500. Acts constituting assault in the second degree may include:

• Shoving
• Spitting
• Punching
• Slapping
• Throwing an object at another person

In general, any violent act that results in a mild injury is likely to result in an assault charge. However, you can still be charged with assault in the second degree even if you do not make physical contact with another person. Threatening another person with physical harm or attempting to cause bodily harm is enough to trigger a misdemeanor assault charge.

It is also worth noting that a misdemeanor assault on a law enforcement officer or a first responder will result in aggravated penalties, with a doubled maximum fine of $5,000.

Assault in the First Degree

When an act of assault carries the risk of serious bodily harm, the charge is upgraded to assault in the first degree. If convicted of this offense, you face up to 25 years in prison. Examples of first-degree assault include:

• Strangulation
• Firing a deadly weapon
• Stabbing
• Running another person over with a car
• Throwing somebody down a flight of stairs
• Punching someone hard enough to cause a fracture

As with second-degree assault, you do not necessarily have to make physical contact with another person to be charged with felony assault. For instance, pointing a gun at someone can warrant first-degree assault charges, even if the weapon never went off.

Defending Against an Assault Charge

At the Law Offices of Murphy & Price LLP, we can invoke different legal defenses to an assault charge depending on the details of your case. You may have a valid claim to self-defense if the use of force was the only way to protect yourself or others from imminent harm. However, a self-defense claim might only stand up against scrutiny if the court finds that your use of force was proportionate to the threat.

Another common defense against misdemeanor or felony assault is lack of intent. You can never "accidentally" assault another person — it must be done with the purpose of causing physical harm. Our attorneys can argue that there was no malicious intent behind your actions, potentially lowering the charge to a lesser offense or getting the case dismissed altogether.

Meet With an Ocean City, Maryland Assault Defense Attorney Today

An assault charge can come with harsh legal penalties. At the Law Offices of Murphy & Price LLP, our Ocean City criminal defense lawyers can provide you with representation and counsel to contest an allegation of assault. We will give your case our full attention, investigating the series of events that led up to your arrest. For a free initial consultation, you can call our offices at 410-280-2500 or contact us online today.