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Assault with a Dangerous Weapon (ADW) is a felony and a conviction has the potential to result in a lengthy prison sentence. That’s why it’s important to find the right Concord assault with a dangerous weapon attorney to represent you. Speak with an experienced defense attorney at Spring & Spring today by calling (617) 513-9444.
A defendant will be convicted of assault with a dangerous weapon if the Commonwealth proves beyond a reasonable doubt that he or she:
A dangerous weapon is any object that is capable of causing death or serious injury. An ordinarily innocent object becomes a dangerous weapon if the defendant intentionally uses it in a dangerous manner. For example, a sharp pencil is a dangerous weapon when it is thrown at someone’s eyes and a lit cigarette is a dangerous weapon if it is used to intentionally burn someone. Almost any object can transform into a dangerous weapon.
ADW cases are defended by Concord assault with a dangerous weapon attorneys under the following theories.
The prosecution is required to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant committed an assault with a dangerous weapon intentionally. When a defendant accidentally places someone in fear of being struck with a dangerous weapon, he or she cannot be convicted of assault with a dangerous weapon. What constitutes an accident? It is an unexpected, sudden occurrence that the defendant did not intend to cause.
All of us are permitted to defend ourselves with a reasonable amount of physical force in certain situations. If the defendant: (1) reasonably believed his or her personal safety was in immediate danger as the result of a physical attack; (2) took all reasonable steps to avoid a physical altercation before using force; and (3) used the least amount of force necessary to defend himself or herself, then the defendant cannot be found not guilty of ADW. Defending another person from an imminent physical attack also constitutes a defense in certain situations.
When the defense investigation reveals that the alleged victim has been previously convicted of a crime or involved in violent conduct, Attorney Spring will make every effort to share this information with the jurors. The jury will typically hear about witnesses’ criminal convictions if they occurred within the last five years (for misdemeanors) or ten years (for felonies). If the alleged victim was previously accused of violent behavior, Attorney Spring will ask the judge to allow him to explore these “prior bad acts” during cross-examination.
When a defendant is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon, the complaining witness is usually upset with the defendant. The complaining witness wants the case to result in a guilty finding and wants the defendant to be sentenced by the court. Attorney Spring will highlight the complaining witness’ hope for a conviction and punishment during cross-examination.
It is not unusual for defendants to be charged with ADW following marital disputes. In Massachusetts, the prosecution is not permitted to compel a witness to testify against his or her spouse. If the named victim is married to the defendant and chooses not testify, the Commonwealth must dismiss the case unless there is independent evidence that can establish the defendant’s guilt.
If the complaining witness is not married to the defendant but still does not want to testify, the prosecutor will sometimes consider the complaining witness’ opinion. Attorney Spring will attempt to persuade prosecutors to dismiss the case, but most of the time the Commonwealth will still prosecute the defendant and, in some cases, will force the complaining witness to testify against his or her will.
A Fifth Amendment Privilege exists where the complaining witness would incriminate himself or herself by testifying truthfully at trial. For example, if the complaining witness lied to the police about the case or hit the defendant during a fight, that witness would have a privilege to refuse to testify. The Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution says no witness can be compelled to offer testimony that would constitute an admission to a crime.
A conviction for the felony charge of assault with a dangerous weapon can have catastrophic consequences. Chris Spring is a Concord Criminal defense attorney who has litigated these cases for his whole career and is in an ideal position to defend you in court. Regardless of whether you have been accused of kidnapping, witness intimidation, or improper care of a dog, we can help you seek justice.