Los Angeles Assault on a Public Official Attorneys

Assault on a Public Official Lawyers in Los Angeles Who Get Results

You don’t have to physically injure someone to be charged with assault. In fact, you don’t even have to touch the person. You may be charged with assault if prosecutors believe you acted in a threatening manner.

You may have been charged with assaulting a public official for simply raising your voice. Or maybe you said something that made someone feel uncomfortable. Unfortunately, public officials have a lot of power, and they can be very vindictive. Regardless of the circumstances, assault on a public official is a serious charge that may result in jail time.

Werksman Jackson & Quinn LLP is a nationally recognized criminal defense law firm. Our office is conveniently located near the Financial District, Downtown Los Angeles, and The Westin Bonaventure Hotel & Suites. Firm partner Alan Jackson has tried more than 85 cases to jury verdict with a career success rate of 96 percent. Our firm is AV Rated by Martindale-Hubbell, and we have been recognized by Super Lawyers for providing outstanding service to our clients.

We will find the best legal strategy to get the charges against you reduced or dismissed. Call us at (213) 688-0460 to learn more today with a free consultation.

What Is Assault on a Public Official?

According to California Penal Code Section 240, assault is the unlawful attempt to cause violent injury to another person. For an assault to have taken place, the defendant must have had the ability to harm the other person when the incident occurred.

California law provides additional protection for public officials and their family members. According to California Penal Code (CPC) Section 217.1, it is unlawful to assault a public official in retaliation for carrying out official actions or to prevent the performance of official duties.

There are three things that a prosecutor must prove to demonstrate a violation of CPC Section 217.1:

1. The defendant committed assault.
2. The victim is a public official or a member of their immediate family, which includes spouses, children, stepchildren, siblings, step-siblings, parents, or stepparents.
3. The assault was committed in an effort to prevent the public official from carrying out official duties or in retaliation for carrying out official duties.

A public official is an elected or appointed official or an employee of federal, state, or local government. This includes:

• Mayors
• Governors
• County supervisors
• City council members
• Federal, state, and local judges
• Secretaries or directors of government agencies
• Elected officials
• Sheriffs, bailiffs, and law enforcement officers
• Prosecutors
• Public defenders

Legal Penalties for Assault on a Public Official

Assault on a public official is a wobbler offense, which means prosecutors may choose to prosecute a violation of CPC 217.1 as a misdemeanor or a felony. When prosecuted as a misdemeanor, a conviction for assault on a public official carries penalties that include up to one year in jail and fines of up to $1,000.

District attorneys may decide to prosecute assault on a public official as a felony based on the defendant’s criminal history and the circumstances of a particular case. When prosecuted as a felony, a conviction carries up to three years in jail and fines of up to $10,000.

Legal Defense Against Assault on a Public Official

Police, judges, and prosecutors are all public officials, and they tend to take it personally when their friends and colleagues are put in an uncomfortable position. However, there are many valid reasons why a citizen may be upset by the actions of a public official.

It’s not a crime to disagree with a public official or dispute what they say. Police and prosecutors will often overreact in situations where someone demonstrates displeasure in regard to the actions of a public official, such as a speaker who raises their voice at a school board meeting.

There are many effective legal defenses your criminal defense lawyer can successfully employ against questionable charges of assaulting a public official, including:

• It was a simple misunderstanding.
• There was no criminal intent.
• The defendant was acting in self-defense.
• There was no attempt to harm the public official.
• People have the right to argue and disagree with public officials.

Are You Facing Charges for Assault on a Public Official in Los Angeles?

The Los Angeles violent crime defense attorneys at Werksman Jackson & Quinn LLP will work to defend your freedom and your reputation. We are frequently able to get these types of charges dismissed.

Werksman Jackson & Quinn LLP is a world-class criminal defense firm. We have gotten favorable results for clients in several high-profile cases, and our firm has been featured on CNBC, Fox News, ABC News, the BBC, Esquire, and the Los Angeles Times.

Call (213) 688-0460 to schedule a case review today.

Recent Assault Case Result

• Mark Werksman’s client was accused of assaulting an off-duty Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Deputy. He faced three years in state prison. After a week-long jury trial, he was found not guilty.

View more case results obtained by the firm.