Dawsonville Aggravated Assault Defense Lawyer

When you’re charged with aggravated assault, you don’t get the benefit of the doubt. Law enforcement treats you like you’re a threat, and prosecutors often assume guilt. Not to mention, the penalties are steep. If you don’t respond quickly with the right legal support, you could end up with a felony record that can define the rest of your life.

Our Dawsonville aggravated assault defense lawyers at Speights Law are prepared to fight aggressively to protect your rights. We have seasoned trial attorneys and former prosecutors with over 122 years of combined experience handling serious felony cases across North Georgia.

If you’ve been accused of aggravated assault, don’t wait to get help. A Dawsonville criminal defense lawyer can help you build a strong defense and fight for the best possible outcome.

Why You Need a Criminal Defense Lawyer After Receiving an Aggravated Assault Charge

Aggravated assault is one of the most serious felony charges in Georgia. From the moment you’re arrested, prosecutors will begin building a case against you, one that is often based on one-sided accounts, assumptions, or incomplete evidence. If you wait too long to get legal help, you’re giving them a head start.

At Speights Law, our aggravated assault defense attorneys in Dawsonville take immediate steps to shift the momentum back in your favor.

Here’s what can happen when you bring us in early to help with your case:

We Protect You From Self-Incrimination

Anything you say, even casually, can be twisted or taken out of context and used against you. We’ll handle all communication with law enforcement so you don’t accidentally hurt your case.

We Preserve Evidence Before It Disappears

If you wait too long, physical evidence that could support your case might be lost, such as surveillance footage being erased. Witnesses might also forget what they saw. The sooner our legal team gets involved, the more we can do to lock down crucial evidence to support your defense.

We Identify Weaknesses in the State’s Case

Aggravated assault charges are often built on incomplete or rushed conclusions. We’ll break things down and carefully review all evidence for inconsistencies.

Our team will also look for any inflated claims about weapons or injuries, as well as unlawful searches that could lead to a dismissal or reduced charges.

We Take Early Action to Protect Your Case

When you bring us in early, we can speak with the prosecutor before charges are set in stone. This gives us the chance to correct misunderstandings, present context the state may not have, or point to evidence that weakens the allegation.

Early involvement also opens the door to outcomes that may not be available later, such as reduced charges or resolving the case without a trial. Waiting too long can limit those opportunities.

What Constitutes Aggravated Assault Under Georgia Law?

In Georgia, aggravated assault charges are broad and often more complicated than people expect. You don’t have to physically harm someone to be arrested. In fact, these cases are often based on verbal threats, everyday objects the state classifies as weapons, or accusations about what you intended, even if no one was actually harmed.

Under Georgia Code § 16-5-21, the state may charge you with aggravated assault if you allegedly:

Attempted to assault someone with the intent to murder, rape, or rob.
Used a deadly weapon or any object likely to cause serious bodily injury or strangulation.
Fired a gun from a vehicle, or just after exiting one, toward another person, an occupied car, or a building.

Again, no physical injury is required for an aggravated assault charge. The charge is often based on how your actions are interpreted or what the other person claims. It can also depend on whether prosecutors believe force or a weapon was involved.

There’s no such thing as a “minor” aggravated assault charge. Even if you believe the situation was a misunderstanding or an act of self-defense, you need someone who knows how the system works and how to fight back. That’s what we do at Speights Law.

Penalties for Aggravated Assault in Georgia

Aggravated assault is classified as a felony in Georgia, and a conviction can result in one to twenty years in prison. The sentence a judge imposes depends on several factors, including your criminal history, the nature of the alleged assault, and who was involved.

In certain cases, Georgia law imposes mandatory minimum sentences or enhanced penalties, which include:

Alleged victims who are public safety officers, elderly individuals (65+), or family or household members.
Assaults involving firearms in school zones, on public transportation, or near other protected areas.
Aggravated assault with intent to rape a child under 14, which carries a sentence of 25 to 50 years in prison.

Aside from prison time, a felony conviction for aggravated assault comes with long-term consequences. You may lose your right to own a firearm, struggle to pass background checks, and face limits on employment, housing, or professional licensing.

These are high-stakes cases with complicated sentencing rules. If you’re facing a charge, the earlier our Dawsonville aggravated assault defense attorneys get involved, the more we can do to protect your future.

Our team can also walk you through how Georgia courts handle charges like yours, including sentencing exposure, long-term consequences, and how key legal issues, like probable cause versus reasonable suspicion, may factor into your defense.

Protect Your Rights and Your Future With an Aggravated Assault Defense Attorney in Dawsonville

An aggravated assault charge is not something you should face without support. The potential prison time and lifelong consequences are too serious to leave to chance.

Our Dawsonville aggravated assault law firm has been in business for more than 20 years and brings a relentless commitment to protecting your rights. We will treat your case with the urgency it deserves and fight for the best result possible.

If you or someone you care about has been accused of aggravated assault, reach out to Speights Law today to schedule a confidential consultation. You can also visit our FAQs page for additional guidance on Georgia criminal defense law.

Aggravated Assault Defense Lawyer in Dawsonville