Westminster Man Punches Woman in Face, Faces Assault Charges

Men are often taught from a young age to never hit women. Not only is it rude and disrespectful, but it’s also illegal, as one Maryland man found out. The 40-year-old man from West Main Street was arrested on August 28 after punching a woman in the face the day before.

The man has been charged with two counts of second-degree assault after he and a woman were arguing on the evening of August 27 on Bond Street. The man grabbed the woman to calm her down, but ending up bruising her. The man walked away, but the woman then said something about his mother that made him upset.

He returned and punched the woman in the face. Police were called and they found a bruise on the woman’s right arm as well as a red mark inside her lip.

The man was arrested by Carroll County Sheriff’s Office. He was charged with assault and placed in jail. The man was released on August 30 after posting a bail amount of $6,000.

First-Degree Assault vs. Second-Degree Assault

First-degree assault is more serious than second-degree assault. First-degree assault involves use of a deadly weapon or a reasonable threat of significant bodily harm or death. Therefore, threatening to kill someone could be considered first-degree assault. Second-degree assault refers to offensive physical contact but without threat of significant harm. First-degree assault can result in 25 years in prison, while second-degree assault can lead to 10 years in prison plus a $5,000 fine.

Defenses to Assault

With a highly experienced and aggressive lawyer on your side, you can fight your assault charges. The Law Offices of Todd K. Mohink, P.A. can help you get your charges reduced or even eliminated altogether. Some defenses we may be able to use include the following:

• Lack of criminal intent. If you accidentally hit or bumped into someone, you cannot be charged with assault because the incident was unintentional.
• You have an alibi. Where were you when the incident occurred? Sometimes police have the wrong person. We can prove that it wasn’t you.
• Eyewitness accounts. Do you have testimony from someone who can prove that you didn’t do it and perhaps someone else committed the assault? Eyewitness accounts can be crucial to a case.
• Self-defense. If someone hits you first, then you have the right to hit them back and defend yourself.
• Misinterpretation of facts. Sometimes the facts in a case are actually wrong. A victim who was intoxicated at the time of the incident may wrongfully accuse someone of hitting them.
• Were you forced to hit someone or else face dire consequences such as injury or death? This is called coercion, which is actually present in many criminal cases.

Contact a Maryland Criminal Defense Lawyer Today

The laws are strict when it comes to assault. Hitting or punching someone can lead to serious criminal charges.

The Columbia assault lawyers at the Law Offices of Todd K. Mohink, P.A. will go to bat for you and help you get the best representation possible. We know how serious assault charges can be. Schedule a free consultation today by filling out the online form or calling (410) 774-5987.

Resource:

baltimoresun.com/maryland/carroll/news/crime/cc-lewis-assault-20190906-n646adc26rh7jp7k4djkwnaitu-story.html

https://www.marylandlawhelp.com/6-men-arrested-charged-in-maryland-assault/