Assault Defense Attorney in Kansas City, Missouri

Beginning January 1, 2017–Assault, first degree, penalty.

565.050. 1. A person commits the offense of assault in the first degree if he or she attempts to kill or knowingly causes or attempts to cause serious physical injury to another person.
2. The offense of assault in the first degree is a class B felony unless in the course thereof the person inflicts serious physical injury on the

victim, or if the victim of such assault is a special victim, as the term “special victim” is defined under section 565.002, in which case it is a class A felony.

Beginning January 1, 2017–Assault, second degree, penalty.

565.052. 1. A person commits the offense of assault in the second degree if he or she:

(1) Attempts to kill or knowingly causes or attempts to cause serious physical injury to another person under the influence of sudden passion arising out of adequate cause; or

(2) Attempts to cause or knowingly causes physical injury to another person by means of a deadly weapon or dangerous instrument; or

(3) Recklessly causes serious physical injury to another person; or

(4) Recklessly causes physical injury to another person by means of discharge of a firearm.

2. The defendant shall have the burden of injecting the issue of influence of sudden passion arising from adequate cause under subdivision (1) of subsection 1 of this section.

3. The offense of assault in the second degree is a class D felony, unless the victim of such assault is a special victim, as the term “special victim” is defined under section 565.002, in which case it is a class B felony.

Beginning January 1, 2017–Assault in the third degree.

565.054. 1. A person commits the offense of assault in the third degree if he or she knowingly causes physical injury to another person.

2. The offense of assault in the third degree is a class E felony, unless the victim of such assault is a special victim, as the term “special victim” is defined under section 565.002, in which case it is a class D felony.

Beginning January 1, 2017–Assault in the fourth degree.

565.056. 1. A person commits the offense of assault in the fourth degree if:

(1) The person attempts to cause or recklessly causes physical injury, physical pain, or illness to another person;

(2) With criminal negligence the person causes physical injury to another person by means of a firearm;

(3) The person purposely places another person in apprehension of immediate physical injury;

(4) The person recklessly engages in conduct which creates a substantial risk of death or serious physical injury to another person;

(5) The person knowingly causes or attempts to cause physical contact with a person with a disability, which a reasonable person, who does not have a disability, would consider offensive or provocative; or

(6) The person knowingly causes physical contact with another person knowing the other person will regard the contact as offensive or provocative.

2. Except as provided in subsection 3 of this section, assault in the fourth degree is a class A misdemeanor.

3. Violation of the provisions of subdivision (3) or (6) of subsection 1 of this section is a class C misdemeanor unless the victim is a special victim, as the term “special victim” is defined under section 565.002, in which case a violation of such provisions is a class A misdemeanor.