Simple Assault Charges Don’t Carry Simple Consequences in Texas

Experienced Denton criminal attorney fights to protect your future if you are charged with a Class A or Class C misdemeanor


Many people have ended up in a tussle after drinking too much and having a heated argument with a friend. What might have been chalked up to a bad night amongst friends could actually lead to charges if someone decides to call the police. In fact, you don’t even have to hit someone to get charged with simple assault in Texas. You might get a little carried away during an argument and make threats that make a person feel endangered, and that can lead to charges. Someone might even act aggressively toward you, and you get charged in a misunderstanding while you are trying to defend yourself.

A simple assault charge can carry serious penalties in Texas, as well as long-lasting secondary consequences such as making it difficult for you to get a job, work in a role around children, get professional licensure, and more. Brent D. Bowen, Attorney at Law, is an experienced Denton criminal attorney dedicated to helping you avoid simple assault charges. When it’s not possible to get charges dismissed or reduced, we fight for reduced penalties, allowing you to start over and move forward faster.

What can lead to a simple assault charge in Texas?

You can be charged with simple assault in Texas if you hit someone intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly. That means that you can be charged with assault even if you did not intend to hit the person. For example, you may be charged with assault if you were throwing things in the vicinity of the person and one of those things hit the person and injured them. You can also be charged with simple assault if you threaten a person with bodily harm or if you touch them in a manner you know to be provocative or offensive, such as poking them aggressively.

Because the actions that can lead to an assault charge are so broad, there is a lot of room for interpretation. What may seem “provocative or offensive” to one person may seem harmless to another. What one person interprets as a threat may be interpreted as venting frustration by another. That’s why you need to work with an experienced Denton criminal attorney if you are charged with assault. We carefully examine all the details in the case and challenge the circumstances which led to the charge.

Possible penalties for a simple assault conviction

When you are charged with a simple assault, you are charged with a Class A or C misdemeanor, depending on the circumstances.

A Class C misdemeanor comes with the least severe penalties – up to $500 in fines and no jail time. When a person threatens harm or touches another person in a provocative or offensive manner but no physical injury occurs, it may be considered a Class C.

If you are convicted of a Class A misdemeanor, you could be sentenced to up to a year in jail and ordered to pay up to $4,000 in fines. You may also be required to pay restitution to the victim if your actions result in serious injuries or other damages.

A simple assault can easily turn into a felony charge if the person you hit is a public official, an emergency worker or other parties specified under the law. If you are convicted of a felony, the penalties will be even more serious. Trust our skilled Denton criminal defense lawyer to examine all the evidence, work with specialists, and interview witnesses extensively to uncover every possible opportunity to challenge the charges against you. Our goal is to help you move on from the incident with the least impact on your life and your future.

Dedicated legal advocates on your side when facing serious assault charges

You may have been charged with a simple assault after losing your temper and making a bad judgement call, or after getting intoxicated and acting impulsively. Or, you may have been charged because of a misunderstanding. Either way, you shouldn’t have to pay for your mistakes forever. Call Denton criminal attorney Brent D. Bowen to fight your charges. Call (940) 222-2488 or use the secure online form to schedule a consultation.