Criminal Defense Lawyers in Central Oregon

If you or a loved one are facing an assault charge at any level, or are currently under investigation for assault, it is important to seek the counsel of an experienced criminal defense attorney as soon as possible.

You may have legal defenses available to you, such as self-defense, defense of others, and choice of evils. Only an experienced trial attorney will be able to appropriately counsel you on all of your available defenses. Our team has the trial experience necessary to prepare and execute legal defenses to assault and other violent crime charges.

Investigations by law enforcement are oftentimes narrow and incomplete.  We build your best defense against assault charges by conducting a thorough and exhaustive investigation with our experienced private investigators.

Violent Crimes in Oregon

Assault in the 4th Degree: This can be a Class A Misdemeanor or Class C Felony under certain circumstances, and typically involves a person intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly causing a physical injury to another or, as a result of criminal negligence, causing physical injury to another by means of a deadly weapon.

Assault in the 3rd Degree:  A Class C Felony or Class B Felony depending upon the circumstances, assault in the third degree commonly involves recklessly causing serious physical injury to another by means of a deadly or dangerous weapon, recklessly causing a serious physical injury to another under circumstances manifesting extreme indifference to the value of human life, causing a physical injury to another while being aided by another person, or causing a physical injury to a child 10 years of age or younger.  

Assault in the 2nd Degree: A Class B Felony and subject to a 70-month determinate prison sentence in the Oregon Department of Corrections pursuant to Ballot Measure 11 (ORS 137.700), assault in the second degree is intentionally or knowingly causing a serious physical injury to another, intentionally or knowingly causing a physical injury to another by means of a deadly or dangerous weapon, or recklessly causing a serious physical injury to another by means of a deadly or dangerous weapon under circumstances manifesting extreme indifference to the value of human life.  

Assault in the 1st Degree: A Class A Felony and subject to a 90-month determinate prison sentence in the Oregon Department of Corrections pursuant to Ballot Measure 11 (ORS 137.700), assault in the first degree most commonly involves a person causing serious physical injury to another by means of a deadly or dangerous weapon, intentionally or knowingly causing serious physical injury to a child under six years of age, or intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly causing serious physical injury to another while operating a vehicle while also committing a DUII.  

Strangulation:  Under Oregon law, strangulation is knowingly impeding the normal breathing or circulation of the blood of another person by either applying pressure on the throat, neck, or chest of that person, or by blocking their nose or mouth.  This is another crime that can either be alleged as a Class A Misdemeanor or Class C Felony depending upon other factors and circumstances.  

Menacing: Always a Class A Misdemeanor, menacing is the crime of intentionally attempting to place another person in fear of imminent serious physical injury by words or conduct 

Contact us immediately if you or a loved one are facing assault charges, or if you believe there may be an assault investigation pending.