Tacoma Violent Crimes Attorneys On Your Side

Experienced assault and battery lawyers in Pierce County, Washington
The FBI defines violent crime as an offense that involves force or the threat of force, and breaks it down into four main areas. The most common of these is aggravated assault, but violent crimes also include murder and non-negligent manslaughter, forcible rape and robbery.

Although usually linked, assault and battery involve two actions: assault is the threat of violence, and battery is the actual violence. In other words, raising a fist is the assault; actually punching somebody in the jaw is the battery.

At The Woods Law Office, PLLC, we have helped hundreds of clients throughout Pierce County and King County facing violent crimes charges. Doug Woods is a trial-tested Tacoma violent crimes attorney and former prosecutor with the skill and knowledge to help you when you are facing these serious charges.

Assault laws in Washington State

If you are charged with an assault crime, contact a felony attorney as soon as possible. The police and the prosecution start building a case against you immediately. We want to be able to counter their strategy right from the beginning, too, for charges including:

Assault in the First Degree — Intentionally inflicting great bodily harm with a firearm or deadly weapon or any force likely to produce great bodily harm or death is Assault in the First Degree.

Assault in the Second Degree — This offense includes intentionally assaulting another and recklessly inflicting substantial bodily harm, assaulting another with a deadly weapon, assaulting a pregnant woman and intentionally harming the child, assaulting by poison or strangulation, assaulting another with the intent to commit a felony, and causing pain or agony that is the equivalent of torture.

Assault in the Third Degree — This crime includes assaults on particular persons, such as bus drivers, firefighters, law enforcement officers, and doctors or nurses while performing their duties. Causing bodily harm accompanied by substantial pain that causes considerable suffering may also be Assault in the Third Degree.

Assault in the Fourth Degree — An assault that does not amount to Assault in the First, Second or Third Degree or Custodial Assault is Assault in the Fourth Degree.

Although Assault in the Fourth Degree is a misdemeanor, it is no less important that you contact Tacoma assault attorney Doug Woods as soon as possible to protect your rights.

Schedule a free consultation with Tacoma violent crimes lawyer Douglas Woods

You do not have to nor should you speak to the police or investigators without an attorney present. Any statement you make, regardless of how innocent you think the statement is, can and will be used against you in court by a skilled prosecutor. To schedule a free consultation to learn more about your legal options and protect your rights, contact us online . Weekend and evening appointments are available. We also offer affordable payment plans.

Pending Investigations in Washington State

How pending investigations are handled in Pierce County and throughout the Puget Sound area

Criminal defense lawyers assist people who have been contacted by police for questioning. Whether you are the target of an investigation or simply being sought out by police as a source of information, the criminal defense attorney has two roles: first, to manage the contact with the authorities to make certain that the client’s rights are protected, and second, to insure appropriate compliance with the investigation is maintained. If you are contacted by police, we recommend that you do not speak to investigators until you first speak to a Tacoma criminal defense attorney.

As a former prosecutor who has conducted investigations of criminal suspects in all manner of felony and misdemeanor cases in the City of Auburn and Thurston County, criminal defense attorney Douglas N. Woods of The Woods Law Office, PLLC understands how to handle a pending investigation, placing his client in the best possible position even before charges are filed.

Why police investigate

Unless the police actually witness a criminal act, such as observing a robbery in progress or stopping someone for speeding and finding drugs in the car, there is likely to be some sort of investigation before any charges are filed. Even after an arrest is made, the police and prosecution rarely have all the evidence they need to go to court and convict you — and so they continue to try to collect evidence. They do this by interviewing others, conducting searches and interrogating the suspect — you.

A common police or prosecutorial tactic is to appear as though they are helping you out. At the pre-arrest stage, they may want to ask you questions “to help them in their investigation” or simply “to rule you out as a suspect.” After you are arrested, they may tell you that if you cooperate, they will put in a good word for you with the DA or the judge. The truth is that the police already suspect you, and all they are trying to do is gather evidence to use against you. It is rarely in your best interests to submit to police questioning, and it is almost never a good idea to do this without getting advice from your Tacoma criminal defense attorney first.

Seek experienced legal representation

If your case is pending, we may be able to prevent charges from being filed or influence what charges do get filed. If you have been approached by the police for questioning or are involved in a criminal investigation in Tacoma or anywhere in Western Washington, contact us online to schedule a free consultation.

Tacoma Robbery Attorneys Take Every Case Seriously

Our criminal defense attorneys are here to give you the representation you need

When you break into somebody’s house, that is burglary. When you threaten them with violence or point a gun or other weapon at them, that’s robbery — and that is a much more serious crime with much more serious penalties.

At The Woods Law Office, PLLC in Pierce County, it our job to minimize the consequences you face with robbery charges. It is our goal to have you acquitted or have the charges dismissed. And while that is not always possible, you can count on Tacoma theft lawyer Doug Woods to mount an aggressive, smart and strategic defense to obtain the best possible outcome.

Robbery in the First Degree

This is a Class A felony — putting it in the same category as Murder in the First Degree. The Penalties for Robbery in the First Degree include:

  • A maximum of life in prison
  • A fine of up to $50,000

A charge of Robbery in the First Degree stems from possession of a deadly weapon (a gun, a knife or other weapon so categorized) during the commission of a crime or when trying to escape capture, displaying what appears to be a lethal weapon, using a weapon to inflict bodily harm — in other words, you have committed an assault with a deadly weapon. Moreover, robbing a bank or other financial institution is always considered a case of First Degree Robbery. If charged with this crime, you need the strategic legal expertise of a Tacoma robbery attorney.

Robbery in the Second Degree

Robbery in the Second Degree is a Class B felony. In Washington State’s “three strikes” law, it is considered a strike offense. Penalties for a first offense can range from three to nine months in prison. Adults with a previous criminal history could be looking at a prison term of up to 84 months (seven years) for an adult offender.

Contact our Pierce County robbery defense law firm for a free consultation

Doug Woods is not only a robbery attorney in Tacoma but also a former prosecutor with a track record of success in defending clients against robbery charges. To schedule a free, confidential consultation to discuss your situation and your options, please contact us online. We offer weekend and evening appointments and flexible, affordable payment plans.