Sweetwater County Violent Crimes Defense Lawyers

Nearly 40 Years Defending Violent Crime Charges in Wyoming’s Courts

When a violent crime charge is filed against you in Sweetwater County, the consequences reach far beyond the courtroom. A conviction can mean prison time, the loss of your right to own a firearm, and a permanent record that disqualifies you from safety-sensitive roles in the mining, oil, and natural gas industries that define employment across this region. At The Law Offices of Hampton & Newman, L.C., we defend clients against the full range of violent crime charges: from assault and battery through domestic violence and homicide, in the same courts where these cases are decided. Our attorneys, David A. Hampton and Michael D. Newman, bring nearly 40 years of legal experience and lifelong ties to Wyoming to every case they take.

Felony violent crime cases in Sweetwater County are heard in the Third Judicial District Court in Green River. Misdemeanor matters go through the Sweetwater County Circuit Court. We practice in both, and we know how these cases move from arraignment through pre-trial motions to trial. How early you retain a defense attorney can shape your bond conditions, your pre-trial options, and ultimately your case. Don’t wait to get counsel working on your case.

Schedule an initial consultation with our defense attorneys at The Law Offices of Hampton & Newman, L.C..

Wyoming Assault & Battery Laws

Assault is the attempt to cause bodily injury to another person. Battery is intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly causing bodily injury to another by using physical force. Wyoming draws a clear line between simple and aggravated offenses, and even a misdemeanor charge carries real jail exposure.

Assault and battery fall under one of two categories based on the severity of the offense:

• Simple: Simple assault and simple battery are misdemeanors involving minor bodily injury, such as a cut or bruise, or an attempt to cause minor bodily injury
• Aggravated: Aggravated assault and aggravated battery involve more serious conduct, such as causing or attempting to cause serious bodily injury under circumstances showing extreme indifference to human life, causing bodily injury with a deadly weapon, or intentionally harming a pregnant woman

Simple assault is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $750. Simple battery carries up to six months in jail and/or a $750 fine. Aggravated assault and battery are felonies punishable by up to 10 years in prison. Threatening to use a drawn weapon during a dispute can elevate a misdemeanor assault charge to a felony under Wyoming law. Misdemeanor cases are processed through the Sweetwater County Circuit Court; felony aggravated matters move to the Third Judicial District Court in Green River.

Domestic Violence Allegations in Sweetwater County

Domestic violence offenses are assaults and batteries committed against a household member, such as a:

• Current or former romantic partner or spouse
• Current or former cohabitant
• Parent or adult child of the offender
• Co-parent

Simple assault against a household member is a misdemeanor punishable by up to six months in jail, a fine of up to $750, or both. Simple battery against a household member carries the same exposure.

A prior conviction for assault or battery against a household member raises the stakes significantly. Simple assault with a prior conviction can result in up to six months in prison, a $750 fine, and up to three years of probation. Simple battery with a prior conviction can mean up to one year in prison, up to $1,000 in fines, and up to two years of probation. In aggravated cases involving multiple prior convictions, the charge may escalate to a felony punishable by up to five years in prison and $2,000 in fines. Convicted individuals are also required to pay restitution covering the alleged victim’s medical treatment, counseling, and property damage costs.

Arrests in domestic violence cases in Sweetwater County frequently trigger immediate no-contact orders. Any contact with the alleged victim while that order is in place, even contact the alleged victim initiates, can result in immediate re-arrest. Prosecutors can also move forward with these cases even when the alleged victim doesn’t wish to testify, which means your defense can’t wait on the other party’s cooperation.