New York Penal Code 120.07: Gang assault in the first degree
For an assault to be classified as a gang assault, there must be at least three people involved to complete the crime. Gang assault has only two degrees. They are gang assault in the first degree and the gang assault in the second degree. The worst offense is the first-degree gang assault. Under the New York penal code 120:07, you are likely to face this charge if you are caught in a gang assault. In this case, your intention was to cause serious injury on the victim. If your action resulted in a physical injury to the victim, you are more likely to face this charge. This crime is classified under the class E felony.
In the New York Criminal Courts, a physical injury can be referred to as one that causes substantial pain, physical condition, or physical impairment. In this case, a serious physical injury is defined as one that causes death, one that also creates a substantial risk of death, one that causes protracted impairment or risk of health, or one that causes loss of a body organ. The different between the second-degree and first-degree gang crime is the intentions. For a second-degree gang assault, your intention must be to cause physical injury. On the other hand, the first-degree gang assault’s intention must be to cause death or a serious physical injury.
Example
A man was accompanied by two of his friend when they bumped into a woman. They punched her face a few times before grabbing her handbag. When they left the woman, she was admitted at an emergency inlet in a hospital. She was diagnosed with minor bruises accompanied by a headache. The medical practitioner discharged her with an over-the-counter medication. The man was charged and arrested with first-degree gang assault. When they were in court, the man’s lawyer objected to the claims. They argued that that woman did not suffer any serious physical injury. For this reason, the prosecutor had a tough time sustaining the first-degree gang assault case based on the minimal injuries that do not require treatment or hospitalization.
Related offenses
1. First-degree assault: New York Penal Code 120:10
2. Second-degree gang assault: New York Penal Code 120:06
Defenses
The lack of seriousness on the injury of the victim may present an opportunity to win the case. A first-degree gang assault charge is based on the defendant having the intention to cause a serious physical injury. For this reason, the victim must suffer serious physical pain. If one of these factors is absent, the case is not valid. The medical evidence will be examined by the court to determine the case.
Factors considered by the court include:
• Whether the victim underwent surgery
• Whether there was damage to any vital part of the body
• Victim suffered a permanent scar
• Victim lost conscious
Sentence
Because this is a first-degree gang assault in a class B felony, you are likely to face a 25-year jail term. Because it is also a violent felony, a minimum sentence of five years is applicable. The prior criminal record will also affect the length of the sentence. A fine of $5,000 is applicable.
The nyc criminal attorneys Law Firm
It is a serious offense to be arrested for a first-degree gang assault. You can stay in prison for quite some time. However, there is a defense for a first-degree gang assault charge that can be noted by an experienced legal practitioner. It is important to contact a legal representative if you are arrested. The staff at NYC Criminal Attorneys Law Firm is experienced in representing clients in the New York Criminal Courts who are charged with such felonies and misdemeanors. Contact us for a free consultation session with our team of experienced lawyers.
New York Penal Code 120.06: Gang assault in the second degree
Assault is the most common criminal charges you are likely to face if you recklessly or intentionally cause physical injury to someone else. If more than three people perpetrate that assault, then the offense is raised from assault to gang assault. While this name might suggest that the assault is caused by people identified to belong to a street group, it is not often the case. For purposes of the assault statute, a gang is referred to a group of three or more people who caused assault to a person. Under the New York penal code 120:06, you will face a second-degree gang assault if you get the aid of two or more people to complete your assault. Your intention was to cause physical injury to the victim after the assault. The victim also must have suffered serious physical injury. This crime belongs to class C felony.
Example
A man and four other people approached two people and started picking a street talk with them. They yelled at the two individuals. In the course of the yelling, the man decides to direct the two people to attack the two men. While the man watches, the four people assault the two people. As a result, the two individuals suffer serious physical injuries. Even though that man did not attack the two individuals physically, he directed the other four people to act on his behalf. Therefore, he will face conviction for second-degree gang assault under the New York Penal Code 120:06.
Related offenses
1. First-degree assault: New York Penal Code 120:10
2. First-degree gang assault: New York Penal Code 120:07
Defenses
A second-degree gang assault charge is based on the victim suffering serious physical injury and the defendants who want to cause injury. If one of these factors is absent, you can defend yourself against the charges pressed on you. The court, on the other hand, will not consider that injury as serious unless it is not disfiguring the person permanently or life-threatening. Stab wounds can not cause severe physical injuries.
Sentence
Because the second-degree gang assault is under the class C felony, you are likely to face a prison sentence that does not exceed 15 years. For this reason, the sentence can be accompanied by $5,000 fine. Because this assault is classified as a second-degree violent felony, the judge must impose a mandatory two-year prison sentence. Prior conviction with these charges will affect the increment of your prison sentence.
New York Penal Code 120.06: Gang Assault in the Second Degree
A person is said to be guilty of committing the second-degree gang assault when they have an intention of causing physical injury to another person. In this case, they must have committed the crime with the aid of two or more people. In this case, he will be convicted if he causes a serious injury to the person or third person.
The nyc criminal attorneys Law Firm
It is often a serious offense to be arrested for committing the second-degree gang assault crime. If you get convicted, many aspects of your life will never remain the same again. However, there are many defenses to a second-degree gang assault that can only be understood by an experienced legal practitioner in New York. Therefore, it is always important to contact a person who knows this legal platform if you are arrested with a second-degree gang assault charge. The staff at NYC Criminal Attorneys Law Firm have many years of professional experience in defending clients in the New York criminal courts who have been charged with felonies and misdemeanors such as first and second-degree assault, stalking, menacing, reckless endangerment, and rape. Call us for a free consultation session.