Source: https://www.galvestoncriminallawyer.net/2018/01/injury-disabled-individual-galveston-criminal-defense-attorneys.html
Timestamp: 2019-04-19 16:17:26+00:00

Document:
Assault is usually charged as a misdemeanor, however when the victim is disabled, the offender can be charged with a felony offense. The culpable mental state of the offender and the severity of the victim’s injury affect the degree of the felony charged and the possible resulting punishment.
Punishment for causing injury to a disabled person is more serious because a disabled person is generally less able or even unable to defend themselves because of physical or mental impairment. Because of this, offenders often face maximum sentences sought by aggressive prosecutors.
Considering the possibility of a lengthy prison sentence, it is important to understand the law and your defense options in order to have the best opportunity for a successful defense in court. Furthermore, Texas law provides several affirmative defenses against this type of charge.
If you were arrested for injuring a disabled person in southeast Texas, it is in your best interest to retain an experienced criminal trial lawyer. James G. Sullivan and Associates defend clients accused of violent crimes in Galveston County, Montgomery County, Fort Bend County, Waller County, Brazoria County, and Harris County.
Since 1994, James Sullivan has successfully fought the government in jury trials in criminal district courts. Sullivan graduated from Gerry Spence’s Trial Lawyers College, the most selective and prestigious trial advocacy program in America. Sullivan has a proven record of defending people from all walks of life, faiths and countries in courts throughout southeast Texas.
Galveston county criminal defense attorney James Sullivan will fight for you in court with the goal to get your case dismissed or reduced to a misdemeanor. Call (281) 546-6428 for a free confidential consultation and case evaluation.
According to Texas Penal Code § 22.04(a), a person commits the offense of injury to a disabled individual when he intentionally, knowingly, recklessly, or with criminal negligence, by his action (or intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly by omission) causes serious bodily injury; serious mental deficiency, impairment, or injury; or bodily injury to a disabled individual.
Also, according to Texas Penal Code § 22.04(a-1), a person commits the offense of injury to a disabled individual if he is an owner, operator, or employee of a group home, nursing facility, assisted living facility, intermediate care facility for persons with mental retardation, or other institutional care facility and he intentionally, knowingly, recklessly, or with criminal negligence by omission causes serious bodily injury; serious mental deficiency, impairment, or injury; or bodily injury to a disabled individual.
According to Texas Penal Code § 22.04(b), an omission that causes serious bodily injury; serious mental deficiency, impairment, or injury; or bodily injury to a disabled individual is an offense under this section if the actor has a legal or statutory duty to act; or the actor has assumed care, custody, or control of a disabled individual.
A person who otherwise by reason of age or physical or mental disease, defect, or injury is substantially unable to protect the person’s self from harm or to provide food, shelter, or medical care for the person’s self.
Bodily Injury, as defined by Texas Penal Code § 1.07(8), means physical pain, illness, or any impairment of physical condition.
Serious Bodily Injury, as defined by Texas Penal Code § 1.07(46), means bodily injury that creates a substantial risk of death or that causes death, serious permanent disfigurement, or protracted loss or impairment of the function of any bodily member or organ.
When a person “intentionally or knowingly” causes serious bodily injury or serious mental deficiency, impairment, or injury to a disabled individual, it is considered a first degree felony. If convicted, this charge comes with a presumptive sentence of up to 99 years in prison and/or a fine not to exceed $10,000. When a person “recklessly” causes serious bodily injury or serious mental deficiency, impairment, or injury to a disabled individual, it is considered a second degree felony. If convicted, this charge comes with a presumptive sentence of up to 20 years in prison and/or a fine not to exceed $10,000.
When a person “intentionally or knowingly” causes bodily injury to a disabled individual, it is considered a third degree felony. If convicted, this charge comes with a presumptive sentence of up to 10 years in prison and a fine not to exceed $10,000. Except, it is a second degree felony when the conduct is committed intentionally or knowingly and the victim was a disabled individual residing in a state supported living center, as defined by Texas Health and Safety Code § 555.001, or in a facility licensed under Chapter 252 of the Texas Health and Safety Code, and the alleged offender is an employee of the center or facility whose employment involved providing direct care for the alleged victim. If convicted, this charge comes with a presumptive sentence of up to 20 years in prison and/or a fine not to exceed $10,000.
When a person “recklessly” causes bodily injury to a disabled individual, it is considered a state jail felony. If convicted, this charge comes with a presumptive sentence of up to 2 years in jail and/or a fine not to exceed $10,000.
A person acts “intentionally”, or with intent, with respect to the nature of his conduct or to a result of his conduct when it is his conscious objective or desire to engage in the conduct or cause the result.
A person acts “knowingly”, or with knowledge, with respect to the nature of his conduct or to circumstances surrounding his conduct when he is aware of the nature of his conduct or that the circumstances exist. A person acts knowingly, or with knowledge, with respect to a result of his conduct when he is aware that his conduct is reasonably certain to cause the result.
A person acts “recklessly”, or is reckless, with respect to circumstances surrounding his conduct or the result of his conduct when he is aware of but consciously disregards a substantial and unjustifiable risk that the circumstances exist or the result will occur. The risk must be of such a nature and degree that its disregard constitutes a gross deviation from the standard of care that an ordinary person would exercise under all the circumstances as viewed from the actor’s standpoint.
A person acts with “criminal negligence”, or is criminally negligent, with respect to circumstances surrounding his conduct or the result of his conduct when he ought to be aware of a substantial and unjustifiable risk that the circumstances exist or the result will occur. The risk must be of such a nature and degree that the failure to perceive it constitutes a gross deviation from the standard of care that an ordinary person would exercise under all the circumstances as viewed from the actor’s standpoint.
What is an affirmative defense? According to Texas Penal Code § 2.04, it is a defense in which the defendant introduces evidence, which, if found to be credible, will negate criminal liability, even if it is proven that the defendant committed the alleged acts.
Texas law provides several affirmative defenses against the criminal charge of injury to a disabled individual.
notified in writing the Department of Protective and Regulatory Services that he would no longer provide any of the care set forth in Texas Penal Code § 22.04(d).
Furthermore, written notification under Texas Penal Code § 22.04(i)(2) or (i)(3) is not effective unless it contains the name and address of the actor, the name and address of the disabled individual, the type of care provided by the actor, and the date the care was discontinued.
According to Texas Penal Code § 22.04(k), it is also a defense to prosecution under this section that the act or omission consisted of reasonable medical care occurring under the direction of or by a licensed physician; or emergency medical care administered in good faith and with reasonable care by a person not licensed in the healing arts.
did not reasonably believe at the time of the omission that an effort to prevent the person also charged with an offense against the disabled individual from committing the offense would have an effect.
the victim was a nondisabled or disabled child at the time of the offense.
According to Texas Penal Code § 22.04(m), it is an affirmative defense to prosecution under Texas Penal Code § 22.04(a)(1), (2), and (3) for injury to a disabled individual that the offender did not know and could not reasonably have known that the victim was a disabled individual at the time of the offense.
If you are currently dealing with an assault charge that involves injury to a disabled person in southeast Texas, take the steps necessary to protect your freedom and contact the experienced and knowledgeable criminal defense attorneys in Houston at the law offices of James G. Sullivan and Associates.
It is important to hire an experienced Galveston criminal defense lawyer because criminal charges for injury to a disabled individual do not have to result in a conviction and the resulting lifelong consequences. In order to convict you, the state prosecutor must prove to a jury that you committed every element of the felony offense beyond a reasonable doubt. With an experienced trial lawyer defending you, this is a very difficult burden to meet, and any reasonable doubt in the mind of any of the members of the jury can result in a not guilty verdict or a hung jury. Therefore, it is vital to contact an experienced criminal trial attorney in Houston who will fight for you.
If you have been charged with the criminal offense of injury to a disabled individual in Galveston county or any of the surrounding counties in Texas, contact James G. Sullivan and Associates for a free phone consultation at (281) 546-6428. Attorney James (Jim) Sullivan is an experienced trial lawyer who will fight for your rights, freedom and future.

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