Assault Charges
Defense Against Misdemeanor or Felony Assault Charges in Riverside, CA

Riverside
Assault Charges Defense Lawyer

Assault Charges – Assault under California criminal law is considered a violent crime. Riverside assault defense attorney, Joseph W. Galasso, has extensive experience handling assault cases as a former deputy district attorney prosecuting individuals, and now with that incredibly invaluable experience in his past, now defending those charged with assault in Riverside, San Bernardino, and Orange County.

Examples of assault charges may include a variety of crimes, including:

  1. Assault – California Penal Code Section 240 PC
  2. Battery – California Penal Code Section 242 PC
  3. Domestic Battery – California Penal Code Section 243(e)(1) PC
  4. Sexual Battery – California Penal Code Section 243.4 PC
  5. Battery on a Police Officer – California Penal Code Section 243 PC
  6. Aggravated Battery – California Penal Code Section 243(d) PC
  7. Assault with a Deadly Weapon (ADW) – California Penal Code Section 245(a)(1) PC
  8. Assault with force likely to commit great bodily injury – California Penal Code Section 245 (a)(4) PC
  9. Special allegation for committing great bodily injury during the course of an assault or any crime – California Penal Code Section 245 (a)(2) PC

Severe Consequences. California has some of the most stringent laws and punishment awaiting anyone convicted of a violent crime. Violent crimes in California can be charged by the prosecutor as either a misdemeanor or a felony. A conviction can result in jail or prison time. In addition to jail or prison, you’ll be facing fines, restitution to the victim, parole or probation, mandatory counseling, and a criminal record that will cause you ongoing frustrations for your entire life.

Lose your gun rights. Some convictions for assault charges can affect your 2nd amendment right to buy or own any firearms. A firearms restriction can kill your career if you are a security guard, a police officer, an FBI or federal law enforcement officer or have a military career where firearms are a necessary part of everyday training and life.

The consequences don’t stop there. Many individuals convicted on assault charges lose their current job and future job opportunities because of your criminal record. You might even lose your driver’s license which is unbelievably awful for people who live in the Inland Empire or anywhere in Southern California where driving is a considered by most to rise to a “necessity” not far behind oxygen, food and water.

Strikes. Certain Assaults are considered “strikes” under California’s “Three Strikes” Law and can be used against you to enhance future charges and punishment if you end up in any future trouble.

If you are under investigation, or you suspect that you are being ‘looked’ for assault charges, call me immediately. I find that very often, if you get an assault defense attorney like me to approach detectives before they recommend to the District Attorney to file charges, that by sharing your story with law enforcement or defusing their incorrect assumptions we can head off their recommending to the DA to file charges.

Defenses to charges of assault and similar violent crimes include (1) failure of the prosecution to prove your identity, (2) that you acted in self-defense, or (3) that you acted in defense of others. Assault crimes are often ‘overcharged’ by prosecutors and I will work to defend you from the charges and attempt to have them dismissed or reduced.

I work one-on-one with my clients to form the best possible defense strategy for your case.

When should you call a criminal defense Attorney?

Unfortunately, many people falsely believe – they do not need to hire a criminal defense attorney until they have been arrested and charged with a crime. Waiting to hire legal counsel until you are charged with a crime will be detrimental to your case. Consider the most obvious benefit. Many of my clients who are savvy enough to call me when they learn they are being investigated for a crime actually AVOID being arrested by intervening into the process. I am often able to change the minds of the investigators that my client is a suspect, or even if my client is THE suspect, convince them that they will not be able to win their case, so why would they file charges?

Inside the Prosecutors Office – Prosecutors LIKE TO WIN and they will not file charges if they are convinced winning their case will be a challenge. Most California prosecutors will only proceed with a criminal case against a suspect if they are confident they can win. Prosecutors require sufficient, compelling evidence that will support a guilty verdict or they might proceed if they think they can get the suspect to accept a plea bargain if charged. By hiring a criminal defense attorney early, if we are able to meet the prosecutors with strong opposition from time of the investigation or when charges are being considered, they may become less enthusiastic to proceed.

As a deputy district attorney I saw this from the prosecutors side of the table first hand, and now enjoy defending my clients from our side of the table.

There are many steps that a criminal defense attorney can take to prevent charges from being filed. During this “pre-file” investigation stage, your attorney can conduct an independent investigation and gather witness testimony and physical evidence that supports your innocence. By presenting this information before charges are filed in a clear and compelling manner, it may be possible to derail the prosecuting attorney from filing criminal charges altogether, or reducing serious charges to lesser charges.

Other reasons to hire an attorney immediately

SHUT UP… DON’T TALK…

SHUT UP… DON’T TALK… EVER. – It is critically important to remember that ANYTHING you say or do in the investigation stage by law enforcement may be used (trust me – I’ve used it as a prosecutor – often) as evidence of your guilt. You’d think that telling a truth would diffuse a detective, and be shocked to find that truth you shared being used (in a twisted way) against you at trial!

WHAT? Yes that is right. You may think that cooperating with the police will show them that you are innocent. You might thing that allowing law enforcement to search your phone, car, apartment, or home without a warrant will show them that you are NOT the real suspect. You might then feel betrayed when they discover evidence during their search that proves that you ARE the suspect, or that you were involved in some other, unrelated crime.

To the chagrin of many a defendant in a criminal case, cooperating with investigators often speeds up their creating an arrest warrant.

Image of Riverside Criminal Defense Attorney Joseph Galasso

If you have been charged with Assault or Battery it is in your best interest to:

(1) – DO NOT voluntarily speak with the police, and
(2) – DO consult with a Riverside Criminal Defense attorney as soon as possible.

Call me, Joseph Galasso, a former Riverside Deputy District Attorney – and now a private Riverside Criminal defense attorney defending those accused and charged with crimes. I offer a NO cost, FREE consultation to see if we are a good fit.

Phone me 24/7 at (951) 225-4130.



You have legal rights during the investigation process. If you smartly choose to protect your legal rights, you will have a far better chance of avoiding an arrest, criminal charges and a criminal conviction. If you ignore my advice and do not hire an attorney in the investigation stage, at least take some FREE ADVICE. It is worth more than what you’ll pay for it.

Joseph W. Galasso - Riverside Criminal Defense Attorney

3403 10th St Ste 752
Riverside CA, 92501-3695
(951) 225-4130 Get Directions