Charges
Assault charges he defends
An assault charge can follow an argument that went too far, a crowded bar or a stop that turned physical. Garland looks at what each witness actually saw before anything else.
Simple assault
Threats or a push with no injury, usually heard in magistrate or municipal court.
Assault and battery
Charged by degree, depending on the injury claimed and the circumstances.
Charges after a stop
Resisting, obstructing or striking an officer, often added to a traffic or noise call.
Fights and self-defense
Cases where you were protecting yourself or someone else, and the report leaves that out.
Step by step
From bond hearing to the last day in court
- 01
Step 1: Bond
Garland asks for a bond you can meet and conditions you can live with, such as staying away from one address.
- 02
Step 2: The evidence
He requests body-camera video, emergency call recordings, photos and witness statements, then reads all of it.
- 03
Step 3: Your side
You tell him what happened, in private. He finds the people and the footage that back it up.
- 04
Step 4: Decision
He lays out the choices: ask for dismissal, negotiate, or try the case. You decide which.
Questions
Assault charge questions
The other person doesn't want to press charges. Is it over?
Not always. The prosecutor decides whether to go forward, not the other person. Their wishes matter, and Garland makes sure the prosecutor hears them.
Can I contact the person to apologize?
Don't, especially if your bond has a no-contact condition. Even a friendly text can be used against you. Ask Garland first.
I acted in self-defense. Do I still need a lawyer?
Yes. Self-defense has to be shown with facts, and the police report rarely includes yours. The sooner it's written down, the better.
Will this go on my record?
An arrest goes on your record even before the case ends. If the charge is dismissed, it can often be cleared afterward.
Charged after a fight or a stop?
Write down what happened tonight, while you remember it. Then bring it to a free first meeting.
The first consult is free; any fee and costs are agreed in writing.