U.S. federal law says that you commit a crime if you assault, resist, or impede a federal officer. Depending on the specific facts involved in the offense, the penalties can include a potential 20 year prison sentence. Please contact a skilled criminal defense attorney now if you or a loved one is being charged with a federal crime.

What is the Federal Crime of Assaulting a Federal Officer?

18 USC 111 is the federal statute that criminalizes certain acts if performed on a federal officer in the performance of their official duties. In particular, the statute says that you are guilty of a crime if you do any of the following on or to a federal officer in the performance of their official duties:

  • Assault,
  • Resist,
  • Oppose,
  • Impede,
  • Intimidate, or
  • Interfere.

Please note that for the purposes of this statute, the term “federal officer” is broad and includes various federal employees and agents.

What are the Penalties?

The penalties for committing any of the above acts against an officer will vary depending on the specific facts of your case and whether the crime was committed with a deadly weapon or resulted in any injury to the officer.

A simple act of assault, resistance, opposition, etc. carries a maximum penalty of one year in federal prison. However, assaults or other acts involving bodily injury or the use of a deadly weapon can result in much longer prison sentences, potentially up to 20 years.

Can a Defendant Raise a Legal Defense?

Yes. You have the right to challenge an assault on an officer charge with a legal defense. A common defense is for you to show that your acts did not rise to the level of an “assault,” a “resistance,” or an “interference.” You can also try to show that your case did not involve a federal officer.

Your criminal defense attorney can also try and show that the authorities violated your rights, maybe by:

  • Arresting you without probable cause,
  • Coercing a confession, or
  • Conducting an unlawful search and seizure.

If any of the above, your criminal defense lawyer can try to reduce your charges or get them dismissed.

Contact Black & Askerov for Help

While a defendant can raise a legal defense to challenge an assault or resisting charge, it will take a skilled criminal defense attorney to raise the best defense. The experienced criminal defense attorneys at Black & Askerov have over 30 years of combined experience defending clients on various federal charges. Our Seattle criminal defense lawyers also have the skill and commitment that makes all the difference in these cases. Contact us now to get the legal help you deserve!

* Main image at top by freepik