Aggravated Assault Lawyer in Sarasota
Felony-Level Defense for Sarasota & Manatee County
A simple assault charge is a misdemeanor. An aggravated assault charge is a felony, and that distinction changes nearly everything: sentencing exposure, collateral consequences, and how aggressively the state will pursue the case. Under Florida Statute § 784.021, aggravated assault carries up to five years in prison, a permanent felony record, and consequences that reach into employment, housing, and firearm rights long after any sentence ends. Cases in Sarasota County are heard in the Twelfth Judicial Circuit Court, where prosecutors are experienced with these charges.
McIntosh Law has defended clients in Sarasota and Manatee counties since 1993, handling both state and federal criminal cases across thousands of matters. When a felony is on the line, the defense strategy has to be built on more than one attorney’s perspective.
If you’re facing an aggravated assault charge in Sarasota, don’t wait to get counsel in place. Call (941) 299-0701 to speak with our team.
Why Sarasota Residents Choose McIntosh Law for Aggravated Assault Defense
Attorney Elizabeth J. Loeffler spent over 20 years as a prosecutor and tried hundreds of cases before joining McIntosh Law. She understands how the state attorney’s office builds an aggravated assault case, what evidence they rely on, and where those cases have weaknesses. That prosecutorial perspective is built directly into how we approach each client’s defense.
McIntosh Law doesn’t assign a single attorney to your case and leave it at that. Our team of attorneys and paralegals reviews the facts collectively, drawing on more than 100 years of combined legal experience to identify a strong defense strategy. Founding partner Brett McIntosh holds a 9.9 Superb Avvo rating, and attorney Kevin Griffith has been part of the team for over 10 years. We have bilingual staff available for Spanish-speaking clients, along with night and weekend appointments and virtual meeting options for those who can’t come in during standard hours.
Skilled Defenders On Your Side Over 100 Years of Combined Experience
Here's What Sets Us Apart
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Deep Local Knowledge & Dedication
With over 25 years serving Manatee County, McIntosh Law is committed to defending our community’s rights with integrity.
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Powerful Team Approach
You don’t just get a lawyer—you get an entire team collaborating for your success. Our attorneys and paralegals have over 100+ years of combined experience.
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Strategic & Experienced Defense
Your case deserves a personalized strategy. Every team member has over twenty years in law, ensuring a skilled, thoughtful defense tailored to your specific case.
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Proven Success
Trusted by thousands, we know what it takes to navigate complex criminal cases, bringing experience and results-driven focus to every stage of your defense.
Defense Strategies for Aggravated Assault Charges
Aggravated assault charges can be challenged at multiple levels. Because the state must prove each element of the offense, dismantling any single one can be enough to reduce or defeat the charge. Our team reviews each case from multiple angles to find where the prosecution’s evidence is thin.
Common defense approaches include:
- Stand Your Ground and Self-Defense: Florida’s Stand Your Ground law (§ 776.012) may provide a complete defense if the defendant reasonably believed force was necessary to prevent imminent death or great bodily harm, or to prevent the imminent commission of a forcible felony.
- Lack of Intent: If the state can’t prove the defendant made an intentional threat, the charge may be reduced or dismissed.
- Deadly Weapon Classification: Disputing whether an object qualifies as a deadly weapon under Florida law can defeat the aggravated element entirely, potentially reducing the charge to simple assault.
- Well-Founded Fear Challenge: The alleged victim must have experienced genuine fear that a reasonable person would share. Undermining this element attacks a core requirement of the charge.
- Suppression of Evidence: Evidence obtained through an unlawful search, seizure, or Miranda violation may be excluded, leaving the prosecution without adequate proof.
- False Accusation Defense: When charges arise from personal disputes, investigating the accuser’s motive and exposing inconsistencies in witness statements can be decisive.
- Plea Negotiation and Pre-Trial Diversion: In appropriate cases, negotiating reduced charges or a diversion program may be a viable path to avoiding a felony conviction.
A Team Built for Felony Defense
Felony charges require more than a single review of the police report. At McIntosh Law, attorneys and paralegals work together on each case, bringing different perspectives to the same facts. That collaborative model is especially valuable in aggravated assault defense, where the charge can turn on narrow factual questions: what object was present, what was said, and what the alleged victim actually experienced.
Attorney Elizabeth Loeffler’s background prosecuting cases for over two decades means she knows how the state attorney’s office builds these charges from the inside. Attorney Kevin Griffith has been part of our team for over 10 years, contributing to a practice that has handled thousands of criminal defense matters since 1993. When multiple attorneys review your case, the defense strategy reflects the full weight of that experience rather than a single point of view.
If you’ve been charged with aggravated assault in Sarasota, the time to act is now. Call (941) 299-0701 to schedule a consultation with our team.
