A tool. A glass bottle. Under California law almost any object can be the deadly weapon in an assault with a deadly weapon charge, and the alleged victim does not have to be injured at all. It is enough that they were afraid, which is why an assault with a deadly weapon attorney is often defending against a moment the client barely remembers.
The incident may not have seemed like a big deal at the time. Being charged with a violent crime as a result is a serious matter, and you need an experienced attorney who can work to help you avoid conviction or keep any sentence as short as possible.
Possible Defenses for Assault with a Deadly Weapon
As your assault with a deadly weapon attorney, we will perform a detailed investigation into all of the evidence in your case to discover the best course of action. Depending on what we discover, it may be possible to argue that:
- You acted in self-defense or you were defending someone else
- You did not act willfully or with the required intent
- You did not actually use a deadly weapon or enough force likely to cause serious injury—therefore the victim’s fear was not reasonable
- The prosecutor will not be able to prove your charge beyond a reasonable doubt because your charge is based on unreliable evidence.
Any of these defenses could prevent your conviction or possibly convince the prosecutor to drop or reduce the charges before even going to trial.
If we believe that making a deal with the prosecutor would be in your best interests because of the circumstances of your case, we will work to get you the best possible deal using any weaknesses in the charge to convince the prosecutor to make a great deal.
Call Now to Start Building Your Defense
It is important to consult with a qualified attorney right away when faced with a serious criminal charge like this. That’s why we offer consultations 24/7 in both English or Spanish. Call us now at (800) 497-0018 for a confidential conversation with our highly trained legal staff.