If you’ve lived long enough, you’ve probably been someplace where a fight has broken out. Heck, you may have even been involved. Sometimes cooler heads prevail in these situations and all parties walk away unharmed, but if things escalate and law enforcement shows up, those involved in the fight may end up catching an assault charge.
An assault conviction may just seem like a stupid blemish in your past, but this type of conviction can actually lead to a number of long-term consequences. In today’s blog, we explain why it’s so important to contest an assault charge because of the potential long-term consequences that it could lead to.
How An Assault Conviction Can Affect Your Future
An assault charge can turn your life upside down in a variety of ways, and before we dive into the long-term issues, lets see what can happen right after you’re convicted. For starters, there’s always the possibility of jail time. There are five degrees of assault in Minnesota ranging from misdemeanor to felony. A misdemeanor conviction likely will not lead to jail time if you have an otherwise clean record, but know that you could be sentenced to up to 90 days in jail for a misdemeanor. A felony conviction will almost certainly lead to extended jail time.
Other potential issues you could face as part of your sentencing after an assault include:
- Fines
- Probation
- Angry management or similar educational course
If you avoid jail time and can stomach a mild hit to your finances, you may not think you’re all that worse for the wear following an assault conviction. However, there’s oftentimes issues that can arise weeks, months or even years later as a result of that conviction being on your record. You may have to deal with any of the following:
Job/Career Problems – You could lose your job, find it hard to be hired for a job or struggle to earn promotions as a result of an assault charge being public knowledge on your criminal record.
Housing Issues – It’s possible that you could find it difficult to secure a lease following a conviction, as landlords will be conducting background checks on any potential tenants.
Social Stigma – You may find that there is a social stigma attached to being a convicted criminal. You may lose friends or family connections as a result of your assault conviction.
Loss Of Professional License – Doctors, lawyers and teachers all hold professional certification and licenses to work in their fields, and these licenses could be revoked as a result of a serious assault conviction.
Education – If the assault occurred in high school or college, you may run into some major educational barriers. You could be denied college admission, be kicked out of school housing or be expelled from your university due to the assault conviction.
Loss Of Right To Bear Arms – More serious felony assault convictions render the individual ineligible to own or possess firearms, so your right to conceal carry or even go hunting in the fall could be in jeopardy as a result of your conviction.
As you can see, an assault charge can lead to a host of unwelcomed issues, so try to avoid fights or situations where tensions could boil over. If you end up in a fight and are charged with assault, you absolutely need to contest the charge in the court of law, and the best way to do that is with a criminal defense lawyer by your side. Avery has helped countless clients through this process, and he can do the same for you. For more information or to book a consultation, reach out to his office today at (952) 224-2277.
