Your words and demeanor can be enough to put you in handcuffs. If someone was seriously injured or you allegedly had a weapon, the prosecutor is more likely to charge you with a felony.
It is essential to call an assault and battery attorney as soon as possible. You may have been arrested and released from jail already. Or your loved one might be in jail right now. Davis Law Group is ready to step up to help you or your friend or relative. We are highly experienced in defending against felony assault and battery charges and have a record of winning good results for our clients.
Use our online form or call (313) 818-3238 to set up a free, no-risk consultation with a Detroit felonious assault lawyer.
Felony Assault in Michigan
Assault and battery are often misdemeanor offenses. But there are several situations in which prosecutors can file felonious assault charges against you. Usually, assault and battery become a felony offense when you injure a particular type of professional, cause serious injuries or death, or use a dangerous weapon.
Assault Against Certain Workers
Under Michigan Penal Code Section 750.81d, you face up to two years in prison and a maximum fine of $2,000 if you assault, batter, wound, endanger, or resist a:
- Police officer
- Conservation officer
- Sheriff
- Constable
- Firefighter
- Paramedic
- Another peace officer
If you are facing a felony assault charge for these actions, you must know – or have reason to know – the professional is working at the time.
For injuries that require medical care, you face up to four years in prison and $5,000 in fines. You can face up to 15 years and $10,000 in fines for severe body function impairment.
There are also similar statutes for other types of professionals:
- 750.81c protects employees of family independence agencies
- 750.81e protects public utility employees
Any time you are accused of harming someone working, talk with a Detroit felony assault lawyer about whether that person is protected by law because of their work.
Assault With a Weapon
An experienced Michigan felony assault attorney knows that under 750.82, you can be sentenced to up to four years in prison and fines up to $2,000 if you assault someone without the intent to commit murder or inflict great bodily harm, but use a:
- Firearm
- Knife
- Iron bar
- Club
- Brass knuckles
- Another dangerous weapon
Assault With Intent To Commit Murder
You face up to life in prison under 750.83 if you assault another person with the intent to cause their death.
Assault With Intent To Cause Great Bodily Harm
Under 750.84, you face up to 10 years in prison and up to $5,000 in fines if you:
- Assault someone with the intent to cause great bodily harm, but not death
- Assault someone by strangulation or suffocation
Assault with Intent to Maim
Maiming someone means to:
- Disfigure them
- Cut out or harm their tongue, eye, ear, nose, or lips
- Disable a limb, organ, or member
Under 750.86, if you assault someone with the intent to maim, you face up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $5,000.
Assault With Intent To Commit a Felony
Under 750.87, if you assault someone with the intent to commit another felony, like burglary, you can be penalized with up to 10 years in prison and up to $5,000 in fines.
If you assault someone with the intent to rob them, but you do not have a weapon, you face up to 15 years in prison. When you are armed with a dangerous weapon and intend to rob someone, you can be sentenced to life in prison.
