Assault & Battery Defense

At Findley-Wolf Law, attorneys Natalie Findley-Wolf and Samuel J. Wolf defend individuals accused of assault throughout King County and across Washington. Every allegation demands precision, urgency, and an understanding of how prosecutors evaluate force, intent, and injury. From misdemeanor altercations to felony-level cases involving weapons or serious harm, our firm treats each situation as fact-specific and deeply personal. The approach is deliberate: preserve evidence early, challenge the police narrative, and ensure that every step protects both your case and your long-term future.

Our clients come to us facing charges that can alter employment, family life, and reputation. We provide experienced guidance from the first court appearance through trial or negotiated resolution. Whether a case arises from a heated argument, a misunderstanding, or a claim exaggerated by emotion or intoxication, we focus on building a defense grounded in evidence and law.

Understanding Assault Charges in Washington

In Washington, the criminal code consolidates what other states call “assault” and “battery” into a single category: assault. There is no separate offense of battery here. Instead, the degree of assault depends on the intent, the force used, the extent of injury, and the circumstances surrounding the alleged act. This structure means that even minor physical contact can trigger an arrest, while more serious accusations may bring significant prison exposure and collateral consequences.

Because the law defines assault broadly, these charges often turn on witness accounts, surveillance footage or other video, medical records, or statements made in stressful moments. Many clients are surprised to learn that visible injury is not required for an arrest or prosecution. The state may rely on claims of fear, an attempted strike, or contact deemed “offensive.” Those broad definitions allow room for error; and for defense.

The Charges You Might See 

• Assault in the First Degree

First degree assault is reserved for the most serious incidents. The statute targets assaults where the intent is to inflict great bodily harm, often involving a firearm, another deadly weapon, poison, or force likely to cause death or very serious injury. These cases typically include significant medical records, extensive law enforcement response, and multiple witnesses. They are charged as Class A felonies with lengthy prison exposure. The key litigation questions frequently focus on intent, identification, and whether the force used matches the state’s theory of great bodily harm.

• Assault in the Second Degree

Second degree assault captures a wide range of conduct, which makes careful factual development critical. It can involve a deadly weapon without the extreme intent element of first degree assault. It can also involve strangulation or suffocation in a domestic setting, or assaults that result in substantial bodily harm such as bone fractures or significant lacerations. These cases vary widely. Second degree assault is a Class B felony, and when charged with a domestic violence designation it can trigger restrictive court orders and firearm prohibitions as early as the first appearance.

• Assault in the Third Degree

Third degree assault focuses in part on protected victims and specific contexts. Allegations can arise from contact with law enforcement officers, health care workers in hospitals, school bus drivers, transit operators, and other specified occupations performing their duties. It can also involve incidents that result in substantial pain coupled with certain aggravating facts. 

• Assault in the Fourth Degree

Fourth degree assault is the gross misdemeanor that most people have in mind when they say battery. It can be charged for harmful or offensive touching without significant injury. Many cases are labeled domestic violence. Others arise from bar incidents, sports spectators, neighborhood disputes, or interactions between strangers. Although the maximum jail time is lower than felony cases, the collateral fallout can be serious. Employment, immigration, professional licensing, and family law matters can be affected even by a misdemeanor plea. We pursue dismissals, reductions, or creative resolutions such as stipulated orders of continuance or diversion where available.

• Assault of a Child

Washington separately criminalizes assault of a child in multiple degrees. These cases carry unique elements tied to the age of the alleged victim and the relationship of the accused. Medical causation, timelines, and alternative explanations for injuries become important quickly. We consult with medical specialists when appropriate and scrutinize whether the alleged mechanism of injury is medically sound.

• Domestic Violence Designation

Many assault filings include a domestic violence tag that stems from the relationship between the parties. The domestic label broadens the court’s authority to impose immediate no contact orders, firearm surrender conditions, and treatment requirements. It can also affect how the case is handled by prosecutors and the availability of certain reductions. We engage early to challenge unnecessary restrictions and to present solutions that keep families safe while preserving due process.

What Prosecutors Must Prove

Every assault count has elements that the state must establish beyond a reasonable doubt. The government must show that a particular act was an assault under Washington law and that the accused had the mental state required for the degree charged. For higher degrees, the state often must prove a certain level of harm or the use of a deadly weapon. Substantial versus great bodily harm is a potential battleground. The degree of injury can depend on medical records that are sometimes incomplete, inconsistent, or influenced by initial triage notes. We test whether the evidence truly supports the specific degree the state selected, or whether the facts fit a lesser degree or no offense at all.

Sentencing Exposure And Special Allegations

Washington uses a sentencing grid for felony cases that combines the seriousness level of the offense and the offender score. The offender score is based on prior criminal history and current pending charges, if there are multiple charges. Assault in the first degree carries the most severe standard ranges. Assault in the second degree sits lower on the grid yet still presents significant time. Assault in the third degree is a Class C felony with comparatively shorter ranges, and assault in the fourth degree is punishable as a gross misdemeanor unless elevated by prior qualifying convictions.

Special allegations and enhancements can add mandatory time or increase the court’s authority to go above the standard range. A deadly weapon enhancement, including a firearm enhancement, can add consecutive months of confinement that the judge cannot reduce. A sexual motivation allegation, although less common in pure assault filings triggers additional potential requirements on supervision after prison or jail time, or while on misdemeanor probation.. A hate crime allegation, charged separately in some scenarios, can accompany an assault and alters both the elements and exposure. In domestic violence cases, prosecutors may pursue aggravating circumstances such as the presence of a child who saw or heard the incident. Certain victim roles can influence charging decisions, particularly in third degree assault arising in hospitals or on transit systems. Each special allegation has its own proof requirements. We force the state to meet those requirements and we litigate whether the enhancement applies on the facts presented.

Evidence We Move Fast To Secure

Time destroys defense evidence. Surveillance video in apartments, stores, buses, bars, and garages is often overwritten within days. Body worn camera systems may capture angles that initial reports do not mention. Third party cell phone video might exist but will only surface if someone asks the right person the right way. We issue preservation requests immediately, canvass locations for additional footage, and obtain 911 audio, CAD logs, and radio traffic. In hospital based cases, we request emergency department records, triage notes, imaging, and provider communications to reconstruct the injury timeline. When there are social media posts, we capture them properly for admissibility. If location data matters, we analyze phone records and mapping to test how long individuals were at the scene and where they moved during the encounter.

Domestic Violence Labels, Court Orders, And Firearms

Assault allegations with a domestic violence designation trigger rapid court action. At first appearance, judges ican issue no contact orders, require immediate firearm surrender, exclude a person from their home, and impose monitoring. These orders can separate families, affect employment that requires carrying a weapon, and complicate parenting plans. We act quickly to challenge overbroad conditions and to request modifications that protect safety while allowing essential family contact in appropriate cases. We also guide clients through compliance with any firearm surrender requirement while preserving legal objections for later litigation. When a separate civil protection order is filed, we coordinate the defense so that statements in one proceeding do not harm the other.

How We Litigate Assault Cases

We begin with a detailed client interview that respects both the facts and the emotions that surround them. We want to know what happened, what was said, who was present, and how the event unfolded moment by moment. Then we go gather what the state missed or did not look for. We send targeted discovery requests, move to compel when necessary, and file motions to exclude unreliable or unfairly prejudicial evidence. We evaluate jury instructions early, especially where self defense, identification, and injury level instructions will shape deliberations. When the state pursues enhancements such as a deadly weapon allegation, we litigate sufficiency and proof standards for the special verdict. Negotiations are informed by trial preparation rather than the other way around. The willingness and ability to try a case drives meaningful negotiation.

The Findley-Wolf Law Difference

Assault cases are rarely simple. They are messy, human, and fast moving. Natalie Findley-Wolf and Samuel J. Wolf draws on experience across Washington courts. We bring measured urgency to the first week of a case, then patient pressure as the months unfold. We keep clients informed, we prepare for trial, and we never forget that the goal is not just a file closure but a life that remains intact. If you or someone you care about faces an assault allegation anywhere in King County or across Washington, we are ready to start now, to protect the record, and to fight for the best possible outcome.

If you have a court date, gather your paperwork and bring it to our first meeting. If there is a no contact order, obey it completely, even if the other person reaches out. If there may be video of the event, write down every location that might have a camera, including apartment lobbies, parking structures, ride share dashboards, or nearby stores. If you received medical treatment, request your records so we can review them quickly. Practical steps taken in the first forty eight hours often decide what evidence survives. The law is specific. The facts are unique. Our role is to align the two in your favor.

No two assault cases are identical. Even when charges carry the same name, the people, the histories, the relationships, and the stakes differ. At Findley-Wolf Law, we recognize that reality and approach every defense with precision and purpose. We ground our work in Washington law and local court practice, but we never lose sight of the human side of the case (the emotions, circumstances, and personal factors that shape what really happened). Each client’s story guides how we build the defense, what evidence we prioritize, and how we communicate that truth in court. That blend of detailed preparation and genuine empathy defines how we practice and why we achieve results.

If you or someone you care about is facing assault charges in King County or anywhere in Washington, contact Findley-Wolf Law today for a confidential consultation. Our attorneys will listen to your story, explain your options, and act immediately to protect your rights. Early action can make the difference between a conviction and a clean slate. Call our office or reach out through our website to speak directly with an experienced defense lawyer who will fight for your future with skill, and commitment.