An assault can occur by anyone, upon anyone, regardless of a person’s education or knowledge of the law. A Utah prosecutor is on paid administrative leave while he’s being investigated for the alleged assault of a police officer. Greg Lamb, a Uintah County prosecutor, has been accused of assaulting Vance Norton, a Vernal police detective, while the two were attending a recent training retreat. Witnesses say that Lamb had been drinking prior to the alleged attack, but a motive for the attack is unknown.
What is Assault?
Photo: Rob
Assault is:
• an attempt, with unlawful force or violence, to do bodily injury to another;
• a threat, accompanied by a show of immediate force or violence, to do bodily injury to another; or
• an act, committed with unlawful force or violence, that causes bodily injury to another or creates a substantial risk of bodily injury to another.
Charges for Assault
An assault that fits into the above categories is a class B misdemeanor. If the accused causes substantial injury to a person or if a victim of assault is pregnant and the accused knows of the pregnancy, the assault charge is increased to a class A misdemeanor.
Aggravated assault raises the charge to a third-degree felony if the accused uses a dangerous weapon or other means or force likely to produce death or serious bodily injury. If serious bodily injury occurs to the victim, the charge will increase to a second-degree felony.
Penalties for Misdemeanors and Felonies
The penalties for misdemeanors are:
• class C—up to 90 days of incarceration;
• class B—0-6 months in jail;
• class A—up to 1 year in jail.
Felonies may carry the following punishments:
• third-degree—0-5 years in prison;
• second-degree—1-15 years in prison;
• first-degree—5 years to life in prison.
Call a Utah Criminal Defense Attorney First
If you are arrested, make your phone call count by contacting an experienced Utah criminal defense attorney first. Don’t talk to police or make any statements. Hire an attorney and let him use his knowledge to give you the best defense possible.
