Jacobsen Law Firm

Contact us today: 507-252-2775

  • Home
  • Our Team
    • David W. Jacobsen
    • Michael W. Hero
  • Practice Areas
    • Estate Planning
      • Trusts
    • Business Law
    • Civil Litigation
    • Criminal Defense
      • DUI
      • School Bus Arm Violations
    • Real Estate Law
  • Success Stories
  • Resources
  • Job Openings
  • Blog
  • Contact
Jacobsen Law Firm
  • Home
  • Our Team
    • David W. Jacobsen
    • Michael W. Hero
  • Practice Areas
    • Estate Planning
      • Trusts
    • Business Law
    • Civil Litigation
    • Criminal Defense
      • DUI
      • School Bus Arm Violations
    • Real Estate Law
  • Success Stories
  • Resources
  • Job Openings
  • Blog
  • Contact
Email

CALL

Protecting Your Rights, Your Family, Your Assets And Your Legacy
Jacobsen Law Firm
  1. Home
  2.  » 
  3. blogs
  4.  » 
  5. Southern Minnesota Assault Lawyers

Southern Minnesota Assault Lawyers

On Behalf of Jacobsen Law Firm, P.A. | Jan 22, 2019 | blogs

Criminal Defense Representation

With office locations in Northfield, and Kenyon, our law firm provides criminal defense representation to good people who find themselves on the wrong side of the law.

Minnesota law defines assault in two ways. The first way is when you try to cause fear in someone. They must believe that you are going to cause them bodily harm. The other type of assault is when you actually cause harm to another person, intentionally.  The second is actually a battery but Minnesota has codified this type of conduct into the assault statutes.

Degrees of Assault in Minnesota

Minnesota law divides assault into several degrees, each with their own consequences.

A fifth-degree assault is one of the most common types of assault charges. To be considered a fifth-degree assault, you put enough fear into someone that they truly thought that you were going to hurt them. You might also be arrested for a fifth-degree assault if you actually did harm them!

To be considered a fourth-degree assault, you would have had to threaten or harm a public servant during the performance of his/her duties. This includes school officials, as well as cops, firemen, and other public officials.

A third-degree assault means that you have caused substantial bodily harm to your victim. Broken bones and disabilities (even temporary ones) will make your conduct a third-degree assault. A repeat pattern of assault on a minor child, can also lead such a charge.

If you are looking at a second-degree assault, you are looking at some serious charges. In order to make your assault a second-degree, you must use a dangerous weapon. This doesn’t just mean guns. Knives, wood, and even cars could make your alleged assault rise to the level of a second-degree charge.

If you are charged with a first-degree assault, you are looking at the worst type. To be considered a first-degree assault, you must have caused great bodily harm. This means that if you didn’t kill someone, you were close to it. Any assault using or attempting to use deadly force against a police officer, judge, prosecutor, or correctional employee will lead to a first-degree assault charge.

Consequences of Assault in Minnesota

Each degree of assault has consequences. As the degrees increase, the punishment becomes harsher.

A fifth-degree assault is usually considered a misdemeanor, though you may be looking at a gross misdemeanor charge or even a felony charge if you go after the same person again!

With a fifth-degree conviction, you are looking at spending up to ninety days in jail, along with paying fines up to a thousand bucks.

A fourth-degree assault is a gross misdemeanor, meaning that you could spend up to a year behind bars (i.e. jail not prison). Your fine could reach up to three thousand bucks.

A third-degree assault is a felony. You could be looking at spending the next five years in prison and paying fines up to ten thousand bucks.

A second-degree assault is also a felony. This means that you are looking at up to twenty years in prison, with fines up to ten thousand bucks.

With a first-degree assault, you could spend the next twenty years of your life in prison. You are also looking at fines that could go up to thirty thousand bucks.

If you are facing assault charges (of any degree), you need to hire an experienced lawyer right away! He or she will talk to you about your case and your options so that you can decide the best way to help you through this difficult time.

If your lawyer is unable to help you win your case, he or she will fight hard to get you a lesser charge. A fifth-degree assault conviction is a lot easier to handle than a third-degree one! It could be the difference between several years and several months in confinement.

Don’t hesitate to contact us for all of your legal needs. We will fight for you so that one mistake doesn’t have to ruin the rest of your life.

Recent Posts

  • Can family remove you as estate executor if they’re not happy?
  • 3 crucial details to negotiate before signing a commercial lease
  • When is the right time to begin business succession planning?
  • How can businesses protect their intellectual property?
  • How estate planning can help protect a family farm

Archives

  • March 2025
  • February 2025
  • January 2025
  • December 2024
  • November 2024
  • October 2024
  • September 2024
  • August 2024
  • July 2024
  • June 2024
  • May 2024
  • April 2024
  • March 2024
  • February 2024
  • January 2024
  • December 2023
  • October 2023
  • September 2023
  • August 2023
  • July 2023
  • June 2023
  • May 2023
  • April 2023
  • March 2023
  • February 2023
  • January 2023
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • March 2017
  • February 2015
  • May 2013
  • January 2013
  • November 2012
  • August 2012
  • July 2012
  • May 2012
  • October 2011
  • September 2011
  • July 2011

Categories

  • blogs
  • Business – Employment
  • criminal defense
  • Firm News
  • practice – areas
  • Real estate

RSS Feed

Subscribe To This Blog’s Feed

Jacobsen Law Firm

Northfield Address

158 Water Street N.
Suite 1
Northfield, MN 55057


Northfield Law Office

Phone

507-252-2775



Pay Invoice

  • Follow
  • Follow

Send Us An Email

Can’t call? Contact us via email to schedule a time to discuss your legal issues.

© 2025 Jacobsen Law Firm, P.A. • All Rights Reserved

Disclaimer | Site Map | Privacy Policy | Business Development Solutions by FindLaw

Resources