Bridgeport Assault on an Officer Lawyer
Felony Assault charges are serious under any circumstances, and those involving harming a police officer or other public safety employee can carry a greater sense of jeopardy. If you have been charged with such an offense, you need the assistance of a Bridgeport Assault on an officer lawyer to help protect your rights.
At The Law Offices of Mark Sherman, LLC, we have handled serious felony Assault cases throughout the state, including at Bridgeport Superior Court. We understand how aggressively prosecutors pursue these charges. Our assault attorneys are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, so you do not need to wait to get legal help.
What Are the Penalties for Assaulting a Police Officer?
Under CGS § 53a-167c, Assault on an officer applies when a person intentionally tries to prevent a protected public safety employee from performing their duties and causes physical injury in the process. Most people think of this charge in connection with police officers, but the statute also covers:
- Firefighters;
- EMTs and paramedics;
- Emergency room physicians and nurses;
- Department of Corrections employees, as well as probation and parole officers;
- Animal control officers;
- Public transit employees; or
- Others.
What counts as physical injury under this statute may surprise you. State case law requires only that the protected person experienced some form of physical pain. The injury does not need to be serious, and the threshold is entirely subjective. This gives law enforcement wide discretion when deciding whether to make an arrest.
A conviction of Assault under CGS § 53a-167c is a Class C felony and carries up to 10 years in prison and up to $10,000 in fines. There is also a mandatory minimum of 2 years’ jail time. Mandatory minimum means the jail time cannot be suspended or reduced in any way. Receiving a felony conviction can also permanently affect your employment, professional licenses, and immigration status. One of our attorneys can help you contest Assault charges involving a Bridgeport officer.
How Do You Defend Against Charges of Assaulting an Officer?
A charge does not equal a conviction. Our attorneys know of meaningful defenses that could help protect your rights if an officer in Bridgeport alleges you physically injured them. The first question we could ask is whether the state can prove every element of the charge beyond a reasonable doubt.
Intent is a critical element, and the prosecution must prove you acted with the specific intent to prevent the officer from performing their duties. If the physical contact was accidental, incidental to another action, or occurred during a chaotic situation, prosecutors may not be able to establish intent. Similarly, if you did not know or could not reasonably have known the person was a protected officer, state statutes consider that a viable defense.
Excessive force by the officer is another avenue we could explore. State courts have recognized that a person is not required to submit to conduct that exceeds the bounds of a lawful arrest, such as an officer using unprovoked or unjustified force. We could also act quickly to collect and preserve body camera footage, surveillance video, and witness statements.
At The Law Offices of Mark Sherman, LLC, we scrutinize police reports for inconsistencies, challenge the sufficiency of the evidence, and work proactively with prosecutors when there is cause to reduce or dismiss the charges.
Contact Our Attorneys if You Face Charges of Assaulting a Bridgeport Officer
A felony charge of Assault can negatively impact your future. As these cases move fast, you will want a Bridgeport Assault on an officer lawyer who can intervene immediately. The Law Offices of Mark Sherman, LLC can review the facts of your case and begin planning a defense strategy. Call us today to schedule a confidential consultation.