A Hebron man is facing first-degree assault charges after he allegedly struck another man, reportedly fracturing his jaw and other bones. He was hospitalized for his injuries.
According to the Wicomico County Sheriff's Office, the victim told them that the 20-year-old man came to his Railroad Avenue home in Hebron to see a woman who was there. He said that while he was at the home, the man punched him, without warning, in the face. He claims that the force of the blow knocked him off of the porch. He said that he hit the ground and believes that he was rendered unconscious. It was not reported what the relationship is between the defendant and the two people in the home.
Sheriff's deputies arrested the defendant on Aug. 21, two days after the alleged assault. He was held on $20,000 bond after going before the district court commissioner.
Assault charges are very serious. According to Maryland law § 3-202, a person has committed first-degree assault if he or she causes or attempts to cause "serious physical injury to another" intentionally whether a firearm is used on not. A person found guilty of first-degree assault could face as long as 25 years in prison.
Certainly, no one condones physical violence. However, there may be mitigating circumstances that drive a person to react violently. Sometimes if those circumstances are properly presented to prosecutors, they may agree to reduce the severity of the charges. This can save a person years of life in prison and lessen the impact of a single unfortunate act on the rest of one's life.