Assault Offenses

Assault: A person can commit the offense of Assault with mere words alone. The criminal act can be established if one “intentionally or knowingly threatens another with “imminent bodily injury. Assault in §22.01 of the TEXAS PENAL CODE is defined as follows: A person commits an offense if the person: “intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly causes bodily injury” to another person. The phrase another person includes the person’s spouse. The criminal offense may also be established if one “intentionally or knowingly threatens another.” However, the person must threaten the other with “imminent bodily injury.” Finally, the offense may be established if one “intentionally or knowingly causes physical contact” with another person. The person who causes the physical contact must know or reasonably believe that the other person will “regard the contact as offensive or provocative.

Aggravated Assault: § 22.02. AGGRAVATED ASSAULT. The person commits an aggravated assault if that person commits assault as defined in § 22.01 and “causes serious bodily” injury to another person; or uses or exhibits a “a deadly weapon during the commission of the assault.