Aggravated Assault Defense Attorney in Lexington, KY

Certified Criminal Defense. 90% Success Rate. Free Consultation.

An aggravated assault charge in Lexington puts your freedom, your record, and your future at risk. These charges are prosecuted as felonies under Kentucky law, carrying prison sentences measured in years and consequences that outlast any sentence. At Landon Law, our certified criminal law attorneys have defended these cases for clients throughout Lexington and Eastern Kentucky, including Bath, Clark, Montgomery, and Rowan Counties, with a 90% success rate across criminal defense cases and 25+ years of combined experience.

Free consultations are available. The sooner you contact us, the more time we have to preserve evidence and build your defense.

If you or someone you care about is facing an assault charge in Lexington, call Landon Law now at (859) 237-7892 or reach out through our online contact form to schedule your free consultation.

How Kentucky Classifies Assault Charges

Kentucky divides assault into four degrees under KRS 508.010 through 508.030, based on three factors: the severity of the injury, the accused’s mental state, and whether a deadly weapon or dangerous instrument was involved. Where a charge falls determines the sentence range you face.

The law distinguishes three mental states. Intentional means the person consciously caused the harm. Wanton means they were aware of a serious risk and chose to disregard it. Reckless means they failed to perceive a substantial risk that a reasonable person would have recognized. Prosecutors choose which standard to pursue, and that choice shapes everything.

• First-Degree Assault (Class B Felony): Intentionally causing serious physical injury with a deadly weapon or dangerous instrument, or wantonly engaging in conduct that creates a grave risk of death and thereby causes serious physical injury.
• Second-Degree Assault (Class C Felony): Intentionally causing serious physical injury, intentionally causing any physical injury with a deadly weapon or dangerous instrument, or wantonly causing serious physical injury by means of a deadly weapon.
• Third-Degree Assault (Class D Felony): Recklessly causing injury with a deadly weapon, or intentionally injuring a protected person such as a police officer, teacher, or parole officer.
• Fourth-Degree Assault (Class A Misdemeanor): Intentionally or wantonly causing physical injury, or recklessly doing so with a deadly weapon.

Under Kentucky law, deadly weapons include firearms, knives (other than ordinary pocket or hunting knives), billy clubs and nightsticks, blackjacks, nunchaku karate sticks, shuriken or death stars, and artificial knuckles. A dangerous instrument is any object capable of causing serious physical injury, regardless of its ordinary purpose.

Penalties for Assault Convictions in Kentucky

The degree of the charge determines the sentencing range. Prior felony convictions can enhance those ranges further, and three or more fourth-degree assault convictions involving a family or household member within five years may be elevated to a Class D felony. A first- or second-degree charge may also be reduced to a Class D felony if the defense establishes that the act occurred under extreme emotional disturbance, as recognized under KRS 508.040.

• First-Degree Assault (Class B Felony): 10 to 20 years in prison; fine of $1,000 to $10,000
• Second-Degree Assault (Class C Felony): 5 to 10 years in prison; fine of $1,000 to $10,000
• Third-Degree Assault (Class D Felony): 1 to 5 years in prison; fine of $1,000 to $10,000
• Fourth-Degree Assault (Class A Misdemeanor): Up to 12 months in jail; fine of up to $500

Consequences Beyond the Courtroom

A felony assault conviction doesn’t end when the sentence does. It follows you into every job application, rental inquiry, and licensing review. A violent felony conviction can cost you the right to own or possess a firearm, disqualify you from certain professional licenses, and affect eligibility for subsidized housing programs. For non-citizens, the stakes are higher still: a conviction can affect immigration status, visa eligibility, and green card applications.

Kentucky doesn’t automatically expunge violent felony convictions. Whatever ends up on your record is likely to stay there. That’s why the quality of your defense at every stage matters.

Defense Strategies for Aggravated Assault Charges

We build a defense around the specific facts of each client’s case. Several recognized defenses apply to Kentucky assault charges:

• Self-Defense and Justification: Under KRS 503.050, a person who reasonably believes force is necessary to protect themselves from death, serious physical injury, kidnapping, or sexual intercourse compelled by force or threat may be legally justified.
• Defense of Others: Under KRS 503.070, the same justification framework extends to protecting another person from imminent death, serious physical injury, kidnapping, or sexual intercourse compelled by force or threat.
• Challenging Intent: The difference between intentional, wanton, and reckless conduct can determine which degree applies and dramatically change sentencing exposure. We scrutinize how prosecutors characterize the accused’s state of mind.
• Extreme Emotional Disturbance: Establishing this mitigating factor under KRS 508.040 can reduce a first- or second-degree charge to a Class D felony.
• Mistaken Identity: When the evidence connecting our client to the specific act is weak or ambiguous, we challenge it directly.
• Evidentiary Challenges: The prosecution must prove every element beyond a reasonable doubt. We examine how evidence was gathered for constitutional violations, chain-of-custody issues, and gaps in the record.

If an initial outcome is unfavorable, we don’t stop there. Our attorneys have the experience to pursue an appeal. At stakes this serious, that matters.

Why Clients Choose Landon Law for Assault Defense

Landon Law is led by brothers John G. Landon and Charles O. Landon, both certified criminal law attorneys who have worked together on thousands of criminal defense cases throughout Lexington and Eastern Kentucky. Clients notice the difference. Reviews consistently describe both attorneys as accessible between hearings, willing to explain where things stand, and respected in Lexington courtrooms.

Our 90% success rate across criminal defense cases reflects the work. So does what happens after a case closes: we connect clients with resources and support to help them move forward, because we measure our job by more than the verdict.

Start Your Defense with a Free Consultation

Acting quickly after a charge or arrest gives our team the best opportunity to preserve evidence and develop a strategy before critical windows close. We offer free consultations for criminal defense cases, including aggravated assault, with no obligation to continue.

Reach Landon Law by phone at (859) 237-7892 or through our online contact form. We serve clients throughout Lexington and Eastern Kentucky and are ready to get to work on your case.