Assault charges from 1st through 5th degree, strangulation and related offenses.
Understanding Assault
Assault - 1st Degree
The most serious assault charge. Involves allegations of causing great bodily harm to another person.
Max penalty: Up to 30 years in prison and/or $40,000 fine (a dangerous weapon or deadly force causing great bodily harm to a peace officer, prosecutor, judge or correctional employee); up to 25 years and/or $35,000 (great bodily harm to a peace officer, prosecutor, judge or correctional employee); up to 20 years and/or $30,000 (great bodily harm, or deadly force against a peace officer, prosecutor, judge or correctional employee)Minn. Stat. § 609.221 Assault - 2nd Degree
Assault involving the alleged use of a dangerous weapon. If the assault also inflicts substantial bodily harm, the charge carries a higher maximum.
Max penalty: Up to 10 years in prison and/or $20,000 fine (substantial bodily harm); up to 7 years and/or $14,000 (dangerous weapon)Minn. Stat. § 609.222 Assault - 3rd Degree
Assault allegations involving substantial bodily harm or assault of a minor child.
Assault - 5th Degree
The lowest-level assault charge. Involves allegations of intentionally causing or attempting to cause bodily harm, or committing an act intended to cause fear.
Max penalty: Up to 5 years in prison and/or $10,000 fine (felony, with two or more such convictions or juvenile adjudications in the past ten years against the same victim or three years against anyone); up to 364 days in jail and/or $3,000 (gross misdemeanor, with a qualified domestic violence-related conviction or juvenile adjudication in the past ten years against the same victim or three years against anyone); up to 90 days in jail and/or $1,000 (misdemeanor)Minn. Stat. § 609.224 Strangulation
Allegations of intentionally impeding a family or household member's normal breathing or blood circulation by applying pressure on the throat or neck or by blocking the nose or mouth. Minnesota charges this as domestic assault by strangulation.
Assault - 4th Degree
Assault allegations involving a peace officer, correctional employee, or other protected class of victim during the performance of their duties.
Max penalty: Up to 3 years in prison and/or $6,000 fine (felony, peace officers, firefighters, EMS, emergency-department staff or hospital and clinic security guards with demonstrable bodily harm); up to 2 years in prison and/or $4,000 (felony, correctional employees, prosecutors, judges, probation officers or secure-treatment staff); up to one year and a day in prison and/or $3,000 (felony, a bias-motivated assault with a prior within five years); up to 364 days in jail and/or $3,000 (gross misdemeanor, most protected-victim cases)Minn. Stat. § 609.2231 Kidnapping
Allegations of confining or moving another person without their consent, typically with intent to hold for ransom, commit a crime, or cause harm.
Max penalty: Up to 40 years in prison and/or $50,000 fine (victim not released in a safe place, suffers great bodily harm, or is under 16); up to 20 years and/or $35,000 (victim released in a safe place without great bodily harm)Minn. Stat. § 609.25