SEXUAL ASSAULT
There are various ways a person can be charged with assault, from misdemeanor to felony assault. Some assault charges include family violence. A person may face family violence criminal charges when an act by a member of a family or household against another member of the family or household that is intended to result in physical harm, bodily injury, assault, or sexual assault or that is a threat that reasonably places the member in fear of imminent physical harm, bodily injury, assault, or sexual assault.
Assault is considered a crime of violence and is a serious offense in the State of Texas. Having a conviction for even misdemeanor assault can lead to severe consequences such as loss of employment, losing your children or cause you to have immigration issues when later attempting to seek citizenship in the United States.
A sexual assault allegation can become an aggravated sexual assault if the person charged:
- Causes serious bodily injury; or
- Attempts to cause the death of the victim or another person in the course of the same criminal episode; or
- By acts or words places the victim in fear that any person will become the victim of an offense under §20A(a)(3), (4), (7), or (8); or
- Causes the death, serious bodily injury, or kidnapping of any person; or
- Uses or exhibits a deadly weapon in the course of the same criminal episode; or
- With the intent of facilitating the commission of the offense, administers or provides the victim with any substance capable of impairing the victim’s ability to appraise the nature of the act or to resist the act; or
- Is accused of sexually assaulting an elderly individual or disabled individual.
