If I’ve been charged with 2 assaults, what am I looking at when I go to court?
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If I’ve been charged with 2 assaults, what am I looking at when I go to court?
I went into a place of business and supposedly they wouldn’t serve me so I apparently got a little mad and I assaulted 2 men. I hit one and I guess I grabbed the other one in a not so nice place. I honestly don’t remember any of this. The police came, cuffed me, ticketed me for 2 simple assaults, and then let me go. What are the chances of getting these tickets deferred? Should I speak with a criminal defense attorney? In Olympia, WA.
Asked on January 17, 2011 under Criminal Law, Washington
Answers:
MD, Member, California Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 13 years ago | Contributor
Words like apparently and I don't remember absent very very limited circumstances will not negate your liability in a court of law. In other words, absent your defense proving you were sleep walking because you were on ambien, being voluntarily high or drunk will still make you culpable for the crime. If the victims have you on video tape in any way, shape or form, you need a criminal defense attorney to help negotiate a plea deal with the prosecution, especially if this is your first offense or you have had only minor offenses prior to this. Seems like they didn't arrest you but you need to find out (obtain a copy of the police report) whether or not the victims dropped the charges (refuse to press charges) or whether the police only had enough to charge you at that point with simple assault but a more serious charge is forthcoming.
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