Understanding an aggravated assault

When Pennsylvania residents commit an assault, they may not initially think about the consequences. However, assault charges should usually not be taken lightly, especially as an aggravated assault is typically considered to be a felony.

If someone is charged with an aggravated assault, this means that the assault is considered a more serious offense. According to FindLaw, a person’s intentions can determine whether an incident is considered an aggravated assault. This is the case if someone plans to hurt another person or make someone else fear he or she will be harmed. Sometimes an assault becomes an aggravated one if a fire fighter or member of law enforcement is the target of this assault. Assaulting someone because he or she has a particular religion, ethnicity or sexual orientation is also usually considered an aggravated assault.

Sometimes an assault becomes aggravated if the person who was attacked is severely injured. This can include injuries which will cause someone to be disfigured or maimed. A wound that could possibly result in death also can raise the severity of an assault charge. Additionally, a person might be charged with an aggravated assault if he or she has a deadly weapon when the assault occurs, regardless of whether someone was harmed by this weapon.   

An aggravated assault is a serious offense in Pennsylvania. FindLaw says it is typically considered a first or second degree felony. Sometimes a person may be required to pay a fine after he or she has been convicted. Most of the time, people who commit an aggravated assault might be sentenced to between 10 and 20 years in jail.