Portland, Oregon Assault Lawyers

Fighting for assault crime defendants in Oregon for 20 years

Crimes involving any type of force are taken very seriously by prosecutors in Portland. At Philbrook Law, we fight to assert all your defenses, such as that an assault didn’t happen as claimed, that the use of force was justifiable, that there was no intent, and that the government can’t prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt. Our Portland assault lawyers represent defendants charged with assault through each step of the criminal process. We fight to obtain dismissals of the charges and acquittals. Our defense lawyers also work to negotiate plea bargains for less serious charges.  Call us today if you’ve been charged with an assault offense of any degree.

How can we help?

• How is assault defined in Oregon?
• What defenses do you assert on behalf of defendants charged with assault in Portland?
• Are there alternatives to imprisonment for assault charges in Portland?
• Do you have a Portland assault defense lawyer near me?

How is assault defined in Oregon?

Oregon has four categories of assault crimes:

• Assault in the first degree. You may be charged with first-degree assault (a Class A felony) if you:
  • Intentionally cause serious physical harm to another person using a deadly or dangerous weapon.
  • Intentionally or knowingly inflict serious physical injury on a child under the age of six.
  • Commit second-degree assault while aware that the victim is pregnant.
  • Cause serious physical injury to another while operating a vehicle under the influence of intoxicants, provided specific conditions are met.
• Assault in the second degree. This Class B felony applies if you:
  • Intentionally or knowingly cause serious physical harm to another person.
  • Intentionally or knowingly inflict physical injury using a deadly or dangerous weapon.
  • Recklessly cause serious physical injury with a deadly or dangerous weapon under circumstances showing extreme disregard for human life.
• Assault in the third degree. This crime is generally classified as a Class C felony and applies if you:
  • Recklessly cause serious physical injury using a deadly or dangerous weapon.
  • Recklessly cause serious injury under conditions that show extreme indifference to human life.
  • Recklessly cause physical harm using a deadly or dangerous weapon under circumstances demonstrating extreme disregard for human life.
  • Cause physical injury in a variety of other situations, such as harm to a public transport officer, while aided by another person, while in a youth correctional facility (under certain conditions), or injury to an emergency services provider, based on age-related injuries, or harm to a taxi operator or highway flagger.
• Assault in the fourth degree. This offense, typically a Class A misdemeanor, applies if you:
  • Intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly cause physical injury to another person.
  • Cause physical injury due to criminal negligence with a deadly weapon.
  • Commit other specific acts of criminal negligence.
  • The offense may be elevated to a Class C felony if committed near or witnessed by a minor child, stepchild, or minor child residing in the household, if the accused knows the victim is pregnant, or if other conditions apply.
  • Some fourth-degree assaults may be classified as domestic violence, in which case the court must ensure the judgment document reflects that the conviction is for domestic violence.

Another type of assault crime is assaulting a public safety officer.

The penalties for assault crimes in Portland, Oregon, include lengthy jail or prison sentences and large fines. If you’re convicted of a felony, the felony can prevent you from obtaining or keeping a job, buying a home, obtaining credit, voting, and owning a firearm.