Aggressive Fort Worth, TX Assault Attorney
Facing assault charges in Fort Worth, TX? Our expert defense attorneys fight for dismissals and reduced charges. Call Michael & Associates 24/7.
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An Assault Charge Can Have Lifelong Consequences. Let Us Help You.
Are you facing assault charges in the Fort Worth area? Let our team craft a customized defense strategy to get you the best possible outcome. Our #1 goal is a dismissal!
In stressful situations, simple disagreements can quickly escalate and you could end up facing criminal charges. If you’ve been charged with assault in Fort Worth, your rights, freedom, and future are at stake. You need a dedicated legal team with experience representing assault clients and a reputation for getting results. At Michael & Associates, we’re here to help. Our experienced assault attorneys are available 24/7 to provide the fierce defense you need.
Any assault charge in Fort Worth is serious. Prosecutors use every available resource they have against you, and fighting back is essential. We defend clients across Tarrant County and the surrounding areas, including Dallas, Collin, Denton, Ellis, and Rockwall counties.
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Types of Assault Charges We Defend in Fort Worth
People often assume that assault involves violence. That’s not always the case. Under Texas law, some forms of assault don’t even include physical harm. Hitting someone with a plastic tray at a fast food restaurant or threatening airline workers at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport can land you in jail.
We have decades of experience handling all categories of Texas assault charges:
Simple Assault
Texas’s definition of simple assault is broad. Just threatening to harm someone can be enough for criminal charges. This can include:
- Causing bodily injury
- Threatening to injure another person
- Provoking physical contact
About 78% of assault cases in Tarrant County in 2024 have been resolved. Simple assaults are typically Class A misdemeanors with penalties including up to a year in jail and fines of as much as $4,000. Just four people were acquitted.
Outcome |
Percentage of case results |
Dismissals |
37% |
Acquittals |
.3% |
Convictions |
28% |
Deferred adjudication |
27% |
Other outcomes |
7.7% |
Simple assault charges – and the penalties you’ll face – can be elevated to felonies if the victim is a public servant, older person, or family member. Our team of assault defense attorneys will closely examine the evidence and fight for a charge reduction or dismissal.
Aggravated Assault
Aggravated assault involves either:
- Serious bodily injury
- Use of a deadly weapon during the assault
Close to 69% of aggravated assault cases in Tarrant County in 2024 have been resolved. These charges carry severe penalties, including two to 20 years in prison. The most common outcome was a conviction. Here are the case outcomes by percentage.
Outcome |
Percentage of case results |
Dismissals |
15.5% |
Acquittals |
.1% |
Convictions |
37% |
Deferred adjudication |
29.5% |
Other outcomes |
17.9% |
Our firm will build a strong, evidence-based defense to ensure your rights are protected.
Domestic Violence
Domestic violence or family assault charges arise when you’re accused of threatening or harming a family or household member. Depending on the case and any prior history, these charges range from misdemeanors to felonies. We understand that these cases involve complex dynamics. We provide legal defense and compassionate support.
If you’ve been charged with family violence, you must act quickly. You could be barred from entering your own home, even if that home is solely in your name.
About 55% of family assault cases in Tarrant County in 2024 have been resolved. Penalties vary based on the incident and any injuries. For first-time offenders, it’s typically considered a Class A misdemeanor with a maximum penalty of up to a year in jail and a fine of up to $4,000. Repeat offenders could face a third-degree felony charge and face a prison sentence of two to 10 years and a fine of up to $10,000. Just seven people have been acquitted.
Outcome |
Percentage of case results |
Dismissals |
37% |
Acquittals |
.2% |
Convictions |
30% |
Deferred adjudication |
16.7% |
Other |
16% |
Sexual & Aggravated Sexual Assault
In Fort Worth, sexual assault is a second-degree felony. If threats, injuries, or weapons are involved, the charge could be upgraded to aggravated sexual assault, which is a first-degree felony. The stakes are particularly high in assault cases, not only due to the potential for serious legal consequences but also because of the potential for social stigma. You must act quickly. We’re experienced in defending clients against these serious allegations.
Close to 55% of the cases of sexual assault involving adults in Tarrant County in 2024 have been resolved. Depending on the severity of the charges, the maximum penalty can range from two to 99 years in prison and fines of up to $10,000. The most common outcome was deferred adjudication.
Outcome |
Percentage of case results |
Dismissals |
19.5% |
Acquittals |
0% |
Convictions |
25% |
Deferred adjudication |
36% |
Other |
19.5% |
Aggressive Defenses Against Assault Charges in Fort Worth
An arrest does not mean you’re guilty. You’re always innocent unless proven guilty. And many assault charges stem from insufficient evidence, misunderstandings, exaggerations, or even a desire for retribution. Our team in Fort Worth will explore every possible defense, which may include:
- Necessity or duress
- Self-defense or defense of others
- Lack of intent
- False accusations
- Mutual combat
- Mistaken identity
- Insanity or mental health defenses
Each case is unique. We will build a customized defense strategy designed to expose weaknesses in the prosecution’s case.
What to Do If You Are Arrested for Assault in Fort Worth
If you’ve been arrested, you must take immediate steps to protect yourself:
Don’t speak to law enforcement without a lawyer: Anything you say can be used against you
- You have the right to an attorney – request one immediately
- Exercise your constitutional right to remain silent
- Avoid contact with the victim, even if they live in the same household
- Comply with any protective orders the court has issued
- Do not discuss your case with others, especially during the booking process or while in jail, where conversations are recorded.
Call Michael & Associates as soon as possible to begin your defense. We’re available 24/7.
Why Choose a Local Fort Worth Assault Attorney?
Hiring a local defense attorney gives you a significant advantage. Local knowledge and experience matters. Our attorneys have deep roots in the Fort Worth legal community and are committed to protecting the rights of North Texans. Our team has decades of experience and an established track record of success. Our firm is known for its meticulous preparation and commitment to clients.
We pride ourselves in only hiring attorneys with significant legal experience and diverse skill sets. While all are tough criminal defense lawyers, our teammates have a wide array of other experience as well. Our Fort Worth team includes at least three former prosecutors. We also have a former judge and an ex-FBI agent. This wide range of experience provides critical insight into how our opposition will approach your case. We use this to customize our strategy.
At our firm, we:
- Understand Tarrant County court procedures and know the key personnel
- Have established relationships with prosecutors, judges, and court staff
- Are familiar with community-specific legal trends and jury dynamics
- Offer easy in-person access for urgent questions — we return calls and texts the same business day
Start Building Your Defense Today
An assault charge can derail your life. Don’t face this alone. At Michael & Associates, we deliver fierce, knowledgeable, client-forward, results-driven representation for individuals accused of assault throughout Fort Worth and the surrounding areas.
Call us now for a free consultation.
Frequently Asked Questions About Assault in Fort Worth
The term “battery” is not used in the Texas Penal Code. The state classifies battery under “assault.” Simple assault charges range from a Class C misdemeanor for minor infractions (for example, threatening injury but not actually injuring anyone) to a Class A misdemeanor for more serious incidents that don’t involve severe injuries (for example, pushing someone and causing a bruise.)
Texas Penal Code § 22.01 defines misdemeanor assault as an assault that doesn’t involve serious bodily injury or a deadly weapon. There are three main types of misdemeanor assault (ranging from a Class C misdemeanor to a Class A misdemeanor), based on the act and the victim.
Most assaults are considered misdemeanors, but if an assault involves a deadly weapon or a serious bodily injury, it can be classified as a felony. Here’s a breakdown of some common situations and the criminal charges a defendant would face:
Minor injury (first-time offender): Class A misdemeanor
Assault with a prior record of domestic violence: Third-degree felony
Assault of a public servant: Third-degree felony
Assault that involves choking or strangulation: Third-degree felony
Aggravated assault (assault with a serious injury and/or involving a deadly weapon): Second or first-degree felony
Yes, aggravated assault is typically a second-degree felony.
However, specific circumstances elevate the offense to a first-degree felony, with more severe penalties of between 5 and 99 years or life in prison and a fine as high as $10,000. Factors that can lead to this enhancement include:
Firing a gun from a vehicle and causing serious bodily injury
Use of a deadly weapon and/or causing serious bodily injury to a family member
Assaulting a security officer, witness, or public servant
Causing traumatic injuries (for example, irreversible paralysis)
In Texas, simple assault refers to assault offenses that don’t involve a deadly weapon or a serious bodily injury. Penalties vary depending on the specifics of the case and the relationship between the defendant and the victim, and charges can range from a Class C misdemeanor with no jail time to a third-degree felony for enhanced charges that involve a public official, security officer, or emergency worker.
In Texas, “family assault” and “domestic violence” have one key difference. Domestic violence is a non-legal term commonly used to describe abuse that occurs in “family” or “dating” relationships. Family assault (or Assault – Family Violence under Texas Penal Code § 22.01) is the legal charge under Texas law that someone would face for allegations of domestic abuse.
A “family” or “dating” relationship Includes:
Current/former dating partners
Current/former spouses
Parents of the same child
Relatives by blood or marriage
Roommates
While “rape” is a commonly used term, Section 22.011 of the Texas Penal Code consolidates various non-consensual sexual acts under the term “sexual assault.” This means there is no legal distinction between rape and sexual assault in Texas.
Court data indicates that about 1.1% of all assault cases in Tarrant County go to trial. This is comparable to the percentages in Dallas and Bexar counties but is higher than Harris County, which averages .56%, and Travis County, which averages .29%.
If you need immediate help, call 911. These groups offer longer-term support for families in need of assistance.
ARLINGTON
Women’s Center of Tarrant County Arlington Office: 817-548-1663
Arlington Police Department: 817-459-5600
Arlington Memorial Hospital: 817-548-6100
DALLAS COUNTY
Dallas Area Rape Crisis Center 24-Hour Crisis Line: 972-641-7273
Mosaic Family Services, Inc.: 214-821-5393; https://mosaicservices.org/
GRAND PRAIRIE
The Family Place 24-Hour Crisis Hotline: 214-941-1991; https://familyplace.org/
COLLIN COUNTY
The Turning Point 24-Hour Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800-886-7273; https://www.theturningpoint.org/
WEATHERFORD
Freedom House of Parker County: 817-596-8922; https://www.freedomhousepc.org/
JOHNSON COUNTY
Family Crisis Center of Johnson County: 1-800-848-3206; https://www.familycrisisjc.org/