EF-PC-01-001-A
MisdemeanorAssault
A person commits Assault when they unlawfully attempt, threaten, or do an act with present ability to apply force or violence to another person, causing a reasonable belief that harmful or offensive contact is imminent.
- Base fine
- $200
- Base time
- 5 months
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Legal principles
Assault focuses on unlawful attempts, threats, or acts done with present ability to apply force to another person.
- 01Physical contact or injury is not required if the suspect took a direct act or made an immediate threat with present ability to apply unlawful force.
- 02The threat or attempted force must be immediate rather than vague, conditional, or only future-facing.
- 03Pointing a firearm, drawing back to strike, lunging, chasing within striking range, or other conduct showing present ability may support assault even if no contact occurs.
- 04If a deadly weapon, firearm, or force likely to cause serious injury is used, evaluate Aggravated Assault rather than relying only on this degree.
- 05Reports should document words, gestures, distance, present ability, victim reaction, weapons or dangerous instruments, and why imminent force was reasonably feared.