Assault & Terroristic Threats

Salt Lake City attorney providing skillful defense

Assault and threats may sound like relatively minor offenses, but either crime can become serious depending on the circumstances. Even simple assault can result in a six-month jail term, and threatening behavior is a felony when perceived as terroristic. Harold Stone has the experience to successfully handle your charges of assault or terroristic threats.

Consequences of assault and threatening behavior

Most assault charges involve the attempt to physically harm another person. But the crime of assault does not require someone to be injured. You can be charged with assault for threatening to harm someone and making a display of force, such as throwing a beer glass. Assault is usually a misdemeanor offense, but it can become a felony under circumstances including:

  • The use of a weapon
  • The victim is a peace officer or uniformed service member
  • A sex crime is simultaneously committed

If you accidentally shoot someone during an argument, you could be charged with aggravated assault and face 15 years in prison.

Threats considered to be terroristic

You probably would not imagine that you could be accused of making a threat of terrorism. However, Utah has a law that interprets certain broad threats as terroristic. Remarks about your ill will toward the government or your desire to disrupt public activity can be taken very seriously. You could be charged with making a threat of terrorism for actions such as:

  • Making a threatening remark to your employer
  • Standing up and shouting angrily at a city council meeting
  • Speaking to other students about a fantasy of bombing the school
  • Joking about poisoning the water in your neighborhood

Terroristic threats are felony-level offenses that carry severe penalties.. In some cases, there is a potential 15-year prison sentence.

Get an experienced lawyer for charges of assault or terroristic threats

You need help getting your assault or threat charges under control. Call Salt Lake City criminal defense attorney Harold Stone today at 1-801-913-7055, or contact the firm online to schedule your initial consultation.