Fayetteville, PA asked in Criminal Law for Pennsylvania

Q: If you had a misdemeanor on your background for obscounding witness, and get a criminal charge for assault/strangulation

And have no other assults on your record, will the courts hear the victim out? Will they go easier on defendant?

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1 Lawyer Answer
Ryan L Hyde
Ryan L Hyde
Answered
  • Criminal Law Lawyer
  • Exton , PA
  • Licensed in Pennsylvania

A: The courts are bound to hear the victim. They are actually required to do so if the victim wishes to speak. "No other assaults" implies that there are other convictions. Guidelines use prior record score and offense gravity score to fashion a sentence. Strangulation has a very high OGS. "Take it easy on you" is very very very unlikely to happen in a case like this, especially if the victim makes a statement. You and your attorney should be planning this very carefully.

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