Charged with assault in Houston?A former police officer defending your freedom.
Assault charges in Texas range from a Class C misdemeanor for a threat all the way to a first-degree felony for aggravated assault against a public servant. The stakes are high — and these cases often come down to conflicting accounts of what actually happened. Flat-fee representation in Harris, Montgomery, and Galveston Counties.
Conflicting stories. The truth in the middle.
Assault cases in Texas often come down to one fundamental question: who is telling the truth? An accuser’s statement to police can be exaggerated, fabricated, or shaped to retaliate. Witnesses see only part of what happened. The officer who arrives on scene has minutes — not hours — to decide who to charge.
If you have been accused of assault in Harris, Montgomery, or Galveston County, you need an attorney who will investigate what actually happened — not just accept the accuser’s version. KVM Law Firm gathers surveillance footage, interviews witnesses, reviews medical records, and challenges the accuser’s credibility from day one.
What Texas law actually says about assault.
Under Texas Penal Code § 22.01, a person commits assault if they intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly cause bodily injury to another; intentionally or knowingly threaten another with imminent bodily injury; or intentionally or knowingly cause physical contact when they know or should reasonably believe the other will regard the contact as offensive or provocative.
Simple assault causing bodily injury is a Class A misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail and a fine up to $4,000. Assault by threat is a Class C misdemeanor.
Under Texas Penal Code § 22.02, aggravated assault — assault that causes serious bodily injury or that uses or exhibits a deadly weapon during the commission of the offense — is a second-degree felony carrying 2 to 20 years in prison and a fine up to $10,000.
From Class C threats to first-degree felony.
Every assault charge in Texas falls into one of these categories. The defense strategy depends on the charge level and the specific facts.
Simple Assault · Bodily Injury
Intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly causing bodily injury to another person. Up to 1 year in jail and a $4,000 fine.
Assault by Threat
Intentionally or knowingly threatening another with imminent bodily injury. Fine only, up to $500. But it stays on your record.
Aggravated Assault
Causing serious bodily injury or using/exhibiting a deadly weapon. 2 to 20 years in prison and up to $10,000 fine. Permanent felony record.
Assault on a Public Servant
Against a peace officer, EMS, firefighter, or other public servant. Enhanced to a third-degree felony — or first-degree felony when aggravated.
Assault · Family Violence
Assault causing bodily injury to a family or household member. Specialized procedural rules and serious collateral consequences. Domestic violence defense →
Deadly Conduct
Recklessly engaging in conduct that places another in imminent danger of serious bodily injury. Discharging a firearm in a public place elevates it to a third-degree felony.
Texas recognizes your right to defend yourself.
Self-defense, defense of others, defense of property, and mutual combat are not technicalities. They are substantive defenses written into the Texas Penal Code — and they win cases at trial.
Self-Defense
You are justified in using force against another when you reasonably believe force is immediately necessary to protect yourself against another’s unlawful force. Reasonable force, reasonably perceived threat.
Deadly Force in Self-Defense
Deadly force is justified when self-defense under § 9.31 applies and you reasonably believe deadly force is immediately necessary to protect against another’s use or attempted use of unlawful deadly force.
Defense of Third Person
Force or deadly force in defense of a third person is justified when you reasonably believe intervention is immediately necessary to protect them and your use of force would be justified under § 9.31 or § 9.32.
Defense of Property
Reasonable force is justified to prevent or terminate another’s trespass on your land or unlawful interference with your property. Deadly force in defense of property is justified in specific statutorily-defined circumstances.
Beyond statutory defenses, many assault cases are won on the facts. Many assault charges are based on exaggerated or fabricated claims. KVM Law Firm aggressively investigates: gathering surveillance footage, locating and interviewing independent witnesses, subpoenaing 911 audio, reviewing medical records, and exposing inconsistencies in the State’s case.
A former police officer who has investigated assaults from the other side.
Attorney Kenneth V. Mitchell spent 13 years as a police officer before becoming a defense attorney. He has investigated assaults from the law enforcement side — he knows how officers assess the scene, decide who to charge, and write their reports.
That experience means he knows where the weaknesses are in the State’s case before the prosecutor does. Officer reports that read smoothly to most defense attorneys read like boilerplate to a former officer. Witness statements that the State considers airtight often have holes that only someone who has interviewed witnesses on the street can spot. Flat-fee defense in Harris, Montgomery, and Galveston Counties.
Defending assault cases across the greater Houston area.
Harris County
Houston, Pasadena, Baytown, Katy, Cypress, Spring, Pearland, and surrounding communities.
Montgomery County
Conroe, The Woodlands, Spring, Willis, and surrounding areas.
Galveston County
Galveston, League City, Texas City, Friendswood, and surrounding Gulf coast areas.
Charged with assault? Get a real defense.
Free, confidential case review. Kenneth reviews every inquiry personally. Don’t let an exaggerated or fabricated assault claim define your future.