Aggravated Assault Aggressive Representation. Personalized Attention.

Aggravated Assault Attorney in Kitsap County

Former Prosecutor. Thousands of Cases. Real Felony Assault Defense in Kitsap County.

Washington doesn’t have a statute labeled “aggravated assault,” but the term describes exactly what prosecutors charge when they pursue the most serious assault offenses under Chapter 9A.36 RCW: first-degree & second-degree assault. Both are felonies. Both carry prison time measured in years, not days. If you’re facing either charge in Kitsap County, the case can be heard in Kitsap County Superior Court in Port Orchard, and who defends you matters.

We defend clients facing felony assault charges throughout Kitsap County, including Bremerton & Bainbridge Island. Free consultations are available, and we offer flexible payment plans.

A felony assault charge moves fast. Call (206) 222-7701 today to speak with our team about your case and your options.

First-Degree & Second-Degree Assault in Washington

Washington’s felony assault charges fall into two primary tiers, each with distinct elements, penalties, and long-term consequences. The degree charged depends on the facts: the severity of injury, whether a weapon was used, and the defendant’s intent.

First-Degree Assault Under RCW 9A.36.011

First-degree assault requires proof that a person acted with intent to inflict great bodily harm, typically involving a firearm, deadly weapon, or force likely to produce great bodily harm or death. It’s a Class A felony carrying a statutory maximum of life in prison and fines up to $50,000. For a first-time offender, Washington’s Sentencing Reform Act sets a standard range of 93 to 123 months.

Second-Degree Assault Under RCW 9A.36.021

Second-degree assault is a Class B felony, punishable by up to 10 years in prison and fines up to $20,000. It covers intentionally assaulting another and thereby recklessly inflicting substantial bodily harm, assault with a deadly weapon, assault by strangulation or suffocation, and assault with intent to commit another felony. Second-degree assault is also a strike offense under Washington’s Persistent Offender Accountability Act. A third strike can trigger a mandatory life sentence without the possibility of parole, which makes challenging the charge from the outset critical.

How Washington’s Sentencing Grid Works

Washington’s sentencing grid calculates a standard range using two factors: the seriousness level of the offense and the defendant’s offender score, which rises with each prior conviction. The charge degree, whether a weapon was involved, the severity of injury, and the defendant’s history all shape the range a judge works from at sentencing.

A Former Prosecutor on the Defense Side

Our team has over 30 years of combined criminal defense experience and has handled thousands of cases across municipal, county, state, and federal courts. Attorney Tom Brotherton came to defense work after years as a prosecutor, which means he’s seen how the state assembles felony assault cases from the inside: which evidence it prioritizes, how it prepares witnesses, and where its arguments tend to be weakest.

That background shapes how we approach every case. We’ve litigated before the Washington Supreme Court and bring that same level of preparation to cases tried in Kitsap County Superior Court. Whether the right path is a negotiated resolution or a jury trial depends entirely on the facts, and we don’t apply a one-size approach to something this serious.

Start with a Free Consultation

A felony assault conviction can follow you for life. The sooner we can review the facts of your case, the more options we can identify. Ramirez & Cooper, Inc. offers free consultations and affordable payment plans so cost isn’t a barrier to getting real legal help.

Call us at (206) 222-7701 to schedule your free consultation with our Kitsap County felony assault defense team.

Consequences Beyond the Prison Sentence

A felony assault conviction carries consequences that extend well past the term of incarceration. Under both Washington state law and federal law, a felony conviction results in the permanent loss of the right to possess firearms. It can disqualify a person from professional licenses, government employment, and security clearances. For non-citizens, a conviction may trigger deportation or a finding of inadmissibility.

The record itself creates lasting obstacles. Felony convictions can affect housing applications, child custody proceedings, and the right to vote while incarcerated. Washington’s vacation statute does permit some convictions to be cleared from a record, but Class A and Class B felonies face significant restrictions on eligibility. The time to protect your record is before a conviction, not after.

Defense Strategies in Felony Assault Cases

Every case turns on its own facts, and we build our defense around those facts rather than a generic playbook. Several approaches apply across many felony assault cases in Washington.

Self-defense and lawful use of force: RCW 9A.16.020 recognizes the right to use force to protect oneself or another person from imminent harm. The force used must be proportionate to the perceived threat. When the facts support it, we pursue this defense directly.
Lack of intent: First-degree assault requires proof that the defendant acted with specific intent to inflict great bodily harm. Challenging whether the state can prove that mental state is a legitimate and sometimes decisive argument.
Constitutional violations: Unlawful searches, coerced statements, or other violations during arrest or investigation can lead to suppression of evidence. Without that evidence, the prosecution’s case may not hold.
Evidence quality: We scrutinize witness credibility, chain of custody for physical evidence, and the accuracy of police reports. Reasonable doubt can arise from inconsistencies the prosecution didn’t anticipate.
Plea negotiation: When the facts make trial a higher risk, a negotiated resolution may reduce the charge, lower the sentencing range, or remove a strike designation. Tom Brotherton’s prosecutorial background informs how we approach those conversations and what’s realistic to pursue.

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Why Choose Ramirez & Cooper, Inc.?

At Ramirez & Cooper, Inc., our team has successfully handled thousands of cases across a broad spectrum of criminal offenses, from misdemeanors to serious felonies, in both state and federal courts. We understand the anxiety and fear that come with being arrested, and we are here to guide you through the complexities of the criminal justice system. The attorneys at Ramirez & Cooper, Inc. have a thorough understanding of the legal proceedings and criminal statutes. We are able to give our clients the resources, advocacy and legal advice they need to be successful inside and outside the courtroom. Our legal team will stand by your side every step of the way and always keep you updated on the status of your case. We handle criminal cases throughout Washington state. Let us build a case strategy for you or your loved one, we may be able to take action before charges are even filed.

Over 30 Years’ of Combined Legal Experience
Former Prosecution Experience*
Thousands of Criminal Cases Handled

Over 1,000 DUI Cases Handled
Hundreds of Cases Tried to Verdict or Judgment
Appeared Before the Supreme Court

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