Assault Lawyers in Brazos County

The Turnbull Edge: what gives our Montgomery County assault lawyers an advantage

Most defense attorneys have spent their entire careers standing at one spot in the courtroom. Ned Turnbull has occupied nearly every position in it — building assault cases for the State as a Chief Prosecutor, weighing evidence and handing down sentences as a State District Court Judge, and now putting all of that institutional knowledge to work for people charged with crimes in Brazos County.

That breadth of experience can create an essential advantage when your freedom is on the line:

1. Insider perspective. Having spent years as a Chief Prosecutor, Ned understands how the State constructs an assault case — the evidence they prioritize, the arguments they lean on, and where the vulnerabilities tend to be. And having presided over these cases from the bench, he understands exactly what judges in Brazos County look for when evaluating defense arguments. That lets us anticipate the prosecution's moves and address the court's concerns before they ever become problems.
2. Deep local court knowledge. Turnbull Legal Group isn't a Houston firm making the drive up Highway 6 for your trial. We’ve worked these Bryan and College Station courtrooms for years — we’re familiar with the judges, the prosecutors, and the unwritten culture of each room. That familiarity pays dividends at every stage, from bail hearings to plea negotiations to trial.
3. 200+ felony jury trials. Ned has taken on cases far more serious and complex than most assault charges — including cases where his clients' lives were literally on the line as death penalty-qualified trial counsel. That depth of trial experience means no prosecutor, no evidence challenge, and no high-stakes courtroom situation will catch us unprepared. When you trust Turnbull Legal Group with your assault case, you're backed by someone who has seen it all.

Should I get a lawyer for simple assault?

Many people charged with simple assault assume they can handle it themselves, especially when the charge looks minor on paper. That instinct can be costly. Even a misdemeanor assault conviction in Texas results in a permanent criminal record — one that shows up on background checks for employment, housing, and professional licensing for the rest of your life. Before deciding to go it alone, it's worth understanding what's actually at stake.

Texas assault charges — even at the misdemeanor level — can carry serious consequences that extend far beyond a fine or short jail sentence. Aside from potential jail time, a conviction for simple assault in Texas can result in: 

• A permanent criminal record visible to employers, landlords, and licensing boards
• Loss of certain professional licenses or security clearances
• Immigration consequences for non-citizens, including potential deportation
• Enhanced penalties if you face any future criminal charges
• Restrictions on firearm ownership, depending on the specific charge

If your assault charge involves a family or household member, the consequences compound further. What begins as a simple assault can be elevated to a family violence charge with mandatory holds, protective orders, and long-term civil implications.

Jail time is always a possibility with assault crimes. Having an experienced College Station criminal defense attorney review your case costs you nothing — and can make the difference between a dismissed charge and a conviction that follows you for decades. The stakes are almost always higher than they appear.

What to do immediately after an assault arrest in Texas

The hours immediately following an assault arrest may determine the outcome of your case. What you say and do during this window can significantly strengthen or weaken the state's case against you. Here is what you should do:

1. Invoke your right to remain silent. Politely tell the police you are invoking your Fifth Amendment right and will not answer questions without an attorney present. Do not try to explain what happened — anything you say will be used against you.
2. Do not consent to searches. You have the right to refuse consent to a search of your person, vehicle, or property. Compliance doesn't help you; it helps the prosecution.
3. Contact a Brazos County criminal defense attorney immediately. The sooner an attorney is involved, the sooner we can begin protecting your rights, gathering evidence, and identifying weaknesses in the state's case before they disappear.
4. Document everything you remember. Once you are somewhere private, write down every detail you can recall — what led to the incident, who was present, what was said, and the timeline of events. Memory fades quickly.
5. Preserve any evidence. If there are photos, text messages, emails, or social media posts relevant to what happened, preserve them immediately. Evidence can disappear fast, and your attorney will need it.
6. Follow all release conditions. If you are released on bond, adhere strictly to all conditions set by the court. Violations can result in re-arrest and significantly damage your standing before a Brazos County judge.

Time is genuinely your most valuable resource after an assault arrest. The prosecution starts building its case immediately — your defense should too.

What three elements must be present to prove that an assault occurred?

Under Texas Penal Code § 22.01, the state must prove three specific elements beyond a reasonable doubt to secure an assault conviction. Your defense strategy is usually built around challenging one or more of these elements.

1. State of mind: intentional, knowing, or reckless conduct. The state must prove the accused acted intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly — not simply by accident. If the contact was unintentional and without negligence, there is no assault under Texas law.
2. The criminal act: bodily injury, unwanted contact, or imminent threat of harm. The alleged victim must have suffered bodily injury, been subjected to offensive physical contact, or been placed in reasonable fear of imminent bodily injury. Importantly, no physical contact is required for an assault charge — a credible threat alone can be sufficient.
3. Causation. The state must connect the defendant's conduct directly to the harm or threat experienced by the alleged victim. If the evidence doesn't establish that the defendant caused the injury or fear, the state's case falls apart.

Each of these elements is a potential avenue for your defense. Ned Turnbull spent years as a Chief Prosecutor building criminal cases — which means he knows precisely where they're vulnerable and how to challenge them. As a former State District Court Judge, he also knows how Brazos County judges evaluate the quality of the evidence the state presents. This dual perspective can be a genuine tactical advantage that most defense attorneys simply don't have.

How we protect Texans from criminal charges in College Station and Bryan

When you hire Turnbull Legal Group, you're not getting a firm that treats your case like a file number. You're getting personal attention and a defense strategy built around your specific circumstances and the realities of Brazos County's courts.

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Here is how we approach every assault case:

Types of assault charges in Texas

Texas law recognizes a wide spectrum of assault offenses, ranging from misdemeanor charges to first-degree felonies that carry life sentences. The two main umbrellas under which this spectrum of assault charges falls are simple and aggravated assault.

Simple assault

Simple assault in Texas usually happens in these three basic scenarios, in which someone intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly:

• Causes bodily injury to another person 
• Threatens another person with imminent bodily injury
• Causes physical contact with another person in a way that is provocative or offensive 

The classification of the charge — and the severity of its penalties — depends on the specific circumstances. Assault by threat is often a Class C misdemeanor, while assault causing bodily injury jumps to a Class A misdemeanor. If the alleged victim is a public servant acting in an official capacity, a family or household member, or a person in a dating relationship with the defendant, the charge can even be elevated to a third-degree felony.

Aggravated assault

You’ll always be facing felony charges if you’re charged with aggravated assault, meaning years of prison time is automatically on the table. Simple assault becomes aggravated assault when:

• An assault causes serious bodily injury to another person — defined as injury creating a substantial risk of death, causing permanent disfigurement, or resulting in long-term loss of a body part or organ
• An assault involves the use or exhibition of a deadly weapon during the commission of the assault

Aggravated assault charges — even charges for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon in Texas — are charged as a second-degree felony in most circumstances. Aggravated assault becomes a first-degree felony when the assault is committed against a public servant, household member, person in a dating relationship with the defendant, or a witness in a criminal proceeding, among other protected groups. 

Penalties for assault convictions in Texas

The penalties for assault in Texas vary dramatically based on the classification of the charge. The table below provides a general overview — but the actual consequences in your specific case will depend on your criminal history, the facts of the incident, and how aggressively the case is defended.

It is important to note that the consequences of an assault conviction extend well beyond the penalties listed above. A felony conviction in Texas also results in the loss of the right to vote while incarcerated, the loss of the right to possess firearms, potential difficulty finding employment and housing, and serious immigration consequences for non-citizens. If the assault charge involves a domestic violence charge, additional civil consequences — including protective orders and impacts on child custody proceedings — can follow even a misdemeanor conviction.

Texas also has enhancement provisions that can elevate the classification of any assault charge if the defendant has a prior criminal history. A misdemeanor can become a felony, and a second-degree felony can become a first-degree felony, based on prior convictions. This is another reason why mounting an aggressive defense on even a "minor" charge is always in your best interest.

Arrested? Turnbull’s assault lawyers in Bryan/College Station are here to help.

An assault charge in Brazos County demands a defense attorney who knows the local courts and the people inside them — not a firm from Houston making its first trip to the Bryan courthouse. We know how these cases move through the system and exactly where the opportunities are to fight back on your behalf.

Whether you are facing a misdemeanor simple assault charge or a first-degree felony aggravated assault allegation with life in prison on the line, Turnbull Legal Group will treat your case with the seriousness it deserves.

If you or someone you care about has been charged with assault in Bryan, College Station, or anywhere in Brazos County, don't wait. The prosecution is already building its case. Contact Turnbull Legal Group today or call us at (832) 314-3232 for a free consultation.

If you need a Bryan DWI lawyer or support with any other criminal matter, Turnbull is always here to help. Hundreds of trials. Decades of experience. Zero compromises.