3 Steps to Take After Being Charged With Assault in California

Posted on: October 10th, 2023 by Dod Law

Charged With An Assault

Being arrested for assault can be an anxious and stressful time. It can be difficult to know how to proceed and navigate the legal system. Luckily, the good news is that you don’t have to go through this time by yourself.   Learn more about being charged with an assault.

An assault defense attorney from Dod Law can advise you of what’s happening now and what may happen in the future. We can help you navigate the process of justice and answer any questions you may have. We have over 19 years of experience helping individuals just like you stay protected throughout the legal process. 

3 Steps to Take After Being Charged With An Assault

There are some steps you should take after being charged with assault in California in order to give yourself the best chance of reduced penalties. These include:

Seek the Advice of an Attorney

It may be challenging to know what to do after being charged with assault. That’s why you need to seek the advice of an attorney. They are knowledgeable about the legal complexities that come with your assault charge and will be able to present a defense that can either reduce, drop, or dismiss your charges or obtain a not-guilty verdict.

Evidence is important when evaluating legal strategy. Your attorney will help you gather evidence to help in your defense. The evidence collected can include:

• Police reports
• Surveillance footage
• Photos
• Videos
• Witness testimonies
• Text messages, emails, social media posts

Your attorney will also collect other forms of evidence like text messages, emails, or social media posts involving the victim to show your and the victim’s state of mind when interacting with one another.

What to look for in Hiring a Criminal Defense Attorney

Explore Possible Defenses for Your Assault Charges

After collecting and evaluating the evidence, your lawyer will devise the best legal strategy for your situation. For example, you may have had to react in self-defense if the victim was aggressive towards you first. If you had to act in self-defense and the victim got injured, you shouldn’t be held responsible for an assault.

Your assault charges could have also resulted from false accusations. If evidence, such as text messages, emails, or social media posts, from the victim reflects animosity toward you, this can indicate that they have levied a false accusation against you.

Other possible defenses can include a lack of intent or victim consent. If your attorney can prove that you did not have a willful intent or ability to commit a violent injury to the victim, this can also be a viable defense to absolving your assault charge.

Navigate the Court Process

Once you and your attorney establish your defense, it’s time to go through the court process. Your attorney will represent you and fight for justice on your behalf at each of these phases of the court process:

• Arraignment
• Pre-trial hearing
• Trial
• Sentencing

The arraignment and pre-trial hearings allow your attorney to have your charges reduced, dropped, or dismissed through negotiations. Your attorney can negotiate with the prosecutor and judge at any time before the trial when finding evidence overwhelmingly in your favor. 

Your attorney will represent you and fight hard to protect your rights throughout the entire process. 

Charged With An Assault – Consult San Diego’s Experienced Defense Attorneys at Dod Law

If you have been charged with assault, you do not have to navigate the following legal procedure alone. Our attorneys at Dod Law will work hard to represent and protect you every step of the way. That’s why taking specific steps is important when faced with assault charges.

Our attorneys will collect and analyze evidence, explore the best defense to present to the prosecutor and the judge, and represent and fight for you during court proceedings. Call Dod Law, APC at our San Diego office (619) 814-5110 | Vista office 760-814-6025 or complete our contact form for a consultation about your assault charges.