Juveniles Arrested On Allegations Of Assault With A Deadly Weapon (PC 245)
The Ventura Police Department recently responded to multiple calls regarding a large fight in the Ventura area. As Ventura Police Patrol officers were responding to the location, they received additional calls that there were injured victims, including a victim that was stabbed with a knife.
The alleged suspects fled prior to officers arriving on scene but were located a short distance away by responding officers and positively identified. During the investigation, officers reported that the alleged victims got into a verbal argument with the two juvenile suspects.
Police Officers stated that the argument escalated, and one suspect stabbed a victim several times with a knife and the other suspect hit another victim in the head with a skateboard during the altercation. The two male juvenile suspects were uninjured during this incident and booked into Ventura County Juvenile Hall for Assault with a Deadly Weapon.
If you are facing assault charges it is imperative you call our offices at 888-749-0034
In California, assault with a deadly weapon is codified under Penal Code section 245. It states in pertinent part that a person is guilty of assault with a deadly weapon, when the assault is committed with any type of deadly weapon or by means of force that is likely to cause great bodily injury to another. As the example above illustrates, even something like a skateboard may be considered a deadly weapon.
There is no requirement in California that the alleged victim suffer any injury for a person to be charged with assault with a deadly weapon. An experienced and aggressive criminal defense attorney will review the facts of the case to determine what defenses would be proper to raise on behalf of a person charged with assault with a deadly weapon. Assault with a deadly weapon is a “wobbler” offense, which means that it may either be charged as a misdemeanor or a felony. In determining whether to charge the crime as a misdemeanor or a felony, the prosecutor will consider the specific circumstances of the case, and the accused’s prior criminal history.
If you are convicted of a misdemeanor assault with a deadly weapon in Ventura County, you face up to one-year in county jail, probation for up to five years, as well as fines. If you are convicted of assault with a deadly weapon as a felony, you face up to four years in custody. If you used a firearm, you face up to twelve years in prison. Additionally, if you are convicted of assault with a deadly weapon as a felony, you also face having a strike on your record.
If you or a loved one has been arrested, it is imperative you contact our firm. An experienced and aggressive criminal defense firm like Wallin & Klarich will fight for you. Hiring our experienced criminal defense law firm is the best way to ensure you keep your freedom. The attorneys at Wallin & Klarich have been helping people facing assault charges for over 40 years.
Please feel free to contact Wallin & Klarich to discuss your case. You can reach us 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 888-749-0034 or fill out our intake form for immediate assistance.