Aggravated Assault with a Motor Vehicle

While motor vehicles are commonly thought of being as used for transportation purposes, Texas state law does consider motor vehicles to be weapons in certain circumstances. This definition can be incredibly problematic for an individual who is accused of using their vehicle as a weapon because they could ultimately face aggravated assault with a motor vehicle or intoxication assault charges, both of which will result in felony charges.

It is important to understand that serious criminal charges can still result even in cases in which nobody was killed because of a motor vehicle accident, as serious bodily injury or even criminally negligent episodes can also result in possible criminal charges. Furthermore, it is critical to keep in mind that aggravated assault with motor vehicle charges do not necessarily have to involve the vehicle being driven, as a person could also be charged with this crime for other possible uses of a motor vehicle that endangers other people.

Aggravated Assault with a Motor Vehicle Defense Lawyer in Irving, Dallas, Carrolton, Richardson, TX

Were you arrested for alleged aggravated assault with a motor vehicle anywhere in Dallas or a surrounding area of Texas? The Law Offices of Richard C. McConathy can be your voice in the courtroom and has the experience necessary to help you possibly get your criminal charges reduced or dismissed.

Our firm knows how frightening these kinds of criminal charges can be and the tremendous stress that they place on people, so we will do everything we can the help you overcome the alleged offense and be able to move on with your life. Call (972) 233-5700 or contact us online to receive a free consultation that will allow us to examine the facts of your case and begin building a strong defense in court.

Aggravated Assault with a Motor Vehicle Charges in Texas

Texas Penal Code § 22.02 establishes that a person commits aggravated assault if the person commits assault as defined in Texas Penal Code § 22.01 and the person either causes serious bodily injury to another, including the person’s spouse or uses or exhibits a deadly weapon during the commission of the assault. Texas Penal Code § 22.01 states that a person commits assault if the person intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly causes bodily injury to another, including the person’s spouse; intentionally or knowingly threatens another with imminent bodily injury, including the person’s spouse; or intentionally or knowingly causes physical contact with another when the person knows or should reasonably believe that the other will regard the contact as offensive or provocative.

Again, a motor vehicle can be considered a deadly weapon for purposes of these criminal charges. Texas Transportation Code § 501.001 defines a motor vehicle as meaning any motor-driven or propelled vehicle required to be registered under the laws of this state; a trailer or semitrailer, other than manufactured housing, that has a gross vehicle weight that exceeds 4,000 pounds; a travel trailer; an off-highway vehicle, as defined by Section 551A.001; or a motorcycle or moped that is not required to be registered under the laws of this state.

The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals held that an individual may commit a statutorily distinct species of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon (motor vehicle) “by locking the victim in a hot car, slamming the victim’s head against the car frame, rigging the car’s gas tank to explode, placing the car in neutral and allowing it to run into the victim or a building, suffocating the victim in the trunk, or running the car in an enclosed area to cause carbon monoxide poisoning.” Again, this demonstrates that a person could face these criminal charges even without driving a motor vehicle.

Aggravated assault is typically a second-degree felony, but it becomes a first-degree felony if:

  • the alleged offender uses a deadly weapon during the commission of the assault and causes serious bodily injury to a person whose relationship to or association with the defendant is described by Texas Family Code § 71.0021(b) (dating relationship), 71.003 (family), or 71.005 (household);
  • the alleged offense is committed by a public servant acting under color of the servant’s office or employment, against a person the alleged offender knows is a public servant while the public servant is lawfully discharging an official duty, or in retaliation or on account of an exercise of official power or performance of an official duty as a public servant, in retaliation against or on account of the service of another as a witness, prospective witness, informant, or person who has reported the occurrence of a crime, or against a person the actor knows is a security officer while the officer is performing a duty as a security officer; or
  • the alleged offender is in a motor vehicle and knowingly discharges a firearm at or in the direction of a habitation, building, or vehicle is reckless as to whether the habitation, building, or vehicle is occupied, and in discharging the firearm, causes serious bodily injury to any person.

Certain cases involving alleged offenders under the influence of alcohol or drugs could result in intoxication assault charges. Under Texas Penal Code § 49.07, a person commits intoxication assault if the person, by accident or mistake: 

  • while operating an aircraft, watercraft, or amusement ride while intoxicated, or while operating a motor vehicle in a public place while intoxicated, by reason of that intoxication causes serious bodily injury to another;  or
  • as a result of assembling a mobile amusement ride while intoxicated causes serious bodily injury to another.

Serious bodily injury is defined as an injury that creates a substantial risk of death or that causes serious permanent disfigurement or protracted loss or impairment of the function of any bodily member or organ. Intoxication assault is a third-degree felony.

Aggravated Assault with a Motor Vehicle

Aggravated Assault with a Motor Vehicle Penalties in Texas

The consequences of an aggravated assault with a motor vehicle or even intoxication assault conviction can be severe. In general, possible penalties could include:

  • Third-Degree Felony — Up to 10 years in prison and/or fine of up to $10,000
  • Second-Degree Felony — Up to 20 years in prison and/or fine of up to $10,000
  • First-Degree Felony — Up to 99 years or life in prison and/or fine of up to $10,000

In some cases, an alleged offender may be able to argue that their actions did not constitute aggravated assault with a deadly weapon but were instead just reckless driving. Texas Transportation Code § 545.401 establishes that a person commits reckless driving if the person drives a vehicle in willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property, and this crime is only a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $200 and/or up-to 30 days in jail.

The phrase “willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property” could involve any number of possible scenarios that might apply to a possible aggravated assault with a motor vehicle case, including:

  • Driving at excessive or dangerous speeds
  • Running stop signs or red lights
  • Failure to yield the right-of-way to other drivers and pedestrians
  • Driving while intoxicated (DWI)
  • Evading law enforcement
  • Racing other vehicles
  • Texting and driving

It is also important to keep in mind that a prosecutor for the state is going to have to prove that an alleged offender was either intoxicated, reckless, or acted intentionally. Texas Penal Code § 6.04 establishes that a person is criminally responsible if the result would not have occurred but for his conduct, operating either alone or concurrently with another cause unless the concurrent cause was clearly sufficient to produce the result and the conduct of the actor clearly insufficient.

In cases involving intoxication, a criminal defense attorney may also be able to challenge the accuracy of the blood tests that police used to file the criminal charges. There may be a variety of other motions that could be filed to fight the charges against a person in these cases.

Aggravated Assault with a Motor Vehicle Resources

Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Authority (MVCPA) – TxDMV.GOV — Visit this Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV) website to learn more about auto theft issues. The MVCPA offers forms, publications, and manuals. You can learn how to protect your vehicle, what to do if your car is stolen, and ways to watch your car.

Rice v. State, No. 05–08–00605–CR — Aaron Lee Rice was charged with two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon (a motor vehicle), was convicted on both counts, and was sentenced to five years imprisonment on each charge, but the Dallas Court of Appeals reversed and remanded the case after concluding that the trial court erred by failing to instruct the jury on the lesser-included offense of reckless driving and that Rice was harmed by such error. This is the case in which the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas laid out the ways an individual may commit a statutorily distinct species of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. The Court of Criminal Appeals ultimately ruled that the Dallas Court of Appeals incorrectly held that the trial court erred when it denied the Appellant’s request for a lesser-included-offense instruction because reckless driving was not a lesser-included offense of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon as indicated in this case, and the Court of Criminal Appeals reversed the court of appeals and remanded to the court of appeals to address the remaining issues.

Find A Dallas County Defense Attorney for Aggravated Assault with a Motor Vehicle Charges | Law Offices of Richard C. McConathy

Contact the Law Offices of Richard C. McConathy today for a consultation about your alleged offense in Irving, Dallas, Carrolton, Richardson, and surrounding areas of Dallas County, Texas.

Our firm will be able to provide answers to all of your questions when you call (972) 233-5700 or contact our firm online to arrange a free consultation. We will listen to your side of the story and do everything we can to help you avoid the costliest penalties.