A video camera captured group of people beating a teenager in the street in Springfield, VA recently. The attack occurred when a local teenager threw a party at his house. His address was posted on various social media sites and many people showed up uninvited, including this group in the video. That led to the altercation in which six or more people are seen punching and kicking this person as he lay in the street which was caught by a private security camera. Police went door to door searching for information about who the people were in the video but currently have no leads. Unless the victim steps forward to press charges these attackers will not need a Fairfax criminal defense attorney.
Assault is a serious charge in Virginia and it carries stiff penalties. Assault is a Class 1 Misdemeanor, meaning it carries with it a penalty of up to one year in jail and a fine of up to $2,500. A person charged with assault needs to contact a Fairfax criminal defense attorney right away in order to secure their liberty and keep this serious charge off their record.
Fairfax Criminal Defense Attorney Explains Assault Defenses
There are several defenses which can be offered by a Fairfax criminal defense attorney to help prevent conviction including:
- Self defense
- Unintentional contact
- Accord and Satisfaction
Because a person must intend to injure another, if the attorney can show that the assault was unintentional, the case can be dismissed. Likewise, if a person has a reasonable fear for their safety, they are allowed to use reasonable self defense. Accord and Satisfaction is a bit different. In that defense, the two parties may agree to some sort of financial compensation which will remove the alleged assault charges from the person's record. This is not available if the assault was against a law enforcement officer or household member.