A Texas Class C Assault charge is an assault that does not include pain or injury. Since it is a Class C charge there is no jail time included in punishment. There is only a fine up to $500. This is the same penalty range as a traffic ticket but that doesn’t mean these are not serious charges. Texas Class C Assault charges are still assaults and if you are convicted can show up on your record. Potential employers on a background check see the word “Assault” and don’t care if it’s a class C misdemeanor. They think this person is violent.
There are two ways to allege a Texas Class Assault charge. The prosecution can accuse a person of intentionally or knowingly threatens another with imminent bodily injury, including the person’s spouse. The person must have the specific intent to harm another person and that harm must be imminent. In other words, the harm is about happen.
The second way to allege a class C assault is alleging the defendant intentionally or knowingly causes physical contact with another when the person knows or should be reasonably believe that the other will regard the contact as offensive or proactive. This is the most common way the police will charge a Class C assault. If two people are arguing and one forcefully pushes the police could charge that person with a Class C Assault. There is no pain inflicted but the victim can be offended by the push.
The police can charge a person with a Texas Class C Assault by writing them a ticket or making an arrest. The police will often arrest a person for a class C if there is an altercation in a bar or at a sporting event and no real injury occurred. They will make an actual arrest to calm the situation down and to keep the parties from starting another fight after officer’s leave. The police will also make an arrest if they are called to a domestic dispute. If one spouse tells the police, they were grabbed or shoved but didn’t feel any pain officers will make an arrest but only charge the suspect with a Class C assault.
Texas Class C Assault charges are filed in city courts, and you have the same defenses as you would for any other type of assault charge. That could be self-defense, accident, consent or lack of evidence. If you find yourself charged with a Texas Class C Assault notify an experienced criminal lawyer right away. Don’t represent yourself as people often do with traffic tickets. Class C Assault charges must be taken as seriously as any other assault charge.