Aggravated Assault is a very serious crime. Texas takes offenses and violence against individuals very seriously.  Depending on the level of injury to the individual assaulted, a <simple assault> could be increased to an aggravated assault; an aggravated assault calls for even stricter punishments.

The Law

A person commits aggravated assault if they commit simple assault and:

• cause serious bodily injury to another, including the person’s spouse; or
• uses or exhibits a deadly weapon during the commission of the assault.

Punishment

If an individual commits aggravated assault, the punishment is a <2^nd degree felony>. Aggravated assault on certain individuals and in certain situations can call for a stricter punishment, a <1^st degree felony>. A few examples where stricter punishments would be considered would be an aggravated assault on emergency personnel providing emergency services or security officers performing a duty as a security officer.

Defense

See simple assault for similar defenses.

The exact language of these laws, further details, and additional punishment concerns can be found in section 22.02 of the Texas Penal Code. None of this information can take place of the information, knowledge, and expertise provided by a licensed attorney.