Assault Attorney in Oklahoma City

17+ Years of Criminal Defense. I Handle Every Case Personally.

I’m Taylor McLawhorn, and I personally handle every assault case I take on. With more than 17 years of criminal defense experience and thousands of cases behind me, I understand what’s at stake when you’re facing assault charges in Oklahoma County. You work directly with me throughout your case, not a paralegal or a junior associate. I’m available around the clock, and I represent people throughout Oklahoma City and nearby communities, including Edmond.

My time in the Oklahoma County Public Defender’s Office gave me experience across the full range of criminal charges, from misdemeanors to capital murder. That foundation, combined with my later experience on the prosecution side, shapes how I approach every defense today.

Assault charges move quickly through the Oklahoma County court system. Call me at (405) 504-1858 to schedule your free one-hour consultation before that process gets ahead of you.

How Oklahoma Law Defines Assault & Battery

Oklahoma treats assault and battery as distinct offenses under Title 21. Assault, defined under 21 O.S. Section 641, is any willful and unlawful attempt or offer to use force or violence against another person. No physical contact is required. Battery, under Section 642, requires actual willful and unlawful use of force or violence upon another person. Prosecutors frequently charge both together, and understanding which applies to your situation matters from the start.

At the misdemeanor level, simple assault and assault and battery are each punishable by county jail time and a fine, with assault and battery carrying the steeper penalty. Because the Oklahoma Legislature has revised these misdemeanor penalties in recent sessions, the exact amounts that apply can depend on when the alleged offense occurred. Even so, a conviction creates a criminal record that follows you.

Felony Assault Charges & Aggravated Assault in Oklahoma

Several circumstances elevate an assault charge from a misdemeanor to a felony. Under 21 O.S. Section 646, assault and battery becomes aggravated when it causes great bodily injury, which Oklahoma defines as bone fracture, protracted and obvious disfigurement, protracted loss or impairment of the function of a body part, organ, or mental faculty, or a substantial risk of death. It can also be charged as aggravated when someone of robust health commits it against an aged, decrepit, or incapacitated person. Aggravated assault and battery carries up to five years in the state penitentiary or up to one year in county jail.

When a sharp or dangerous weapon is involved, the exposure increases significantly. Assault or battery with a dangerous weapon and intent to injure is a separate felony under 21 O.S. Section 645, punishable by up to ten years in the penitentiary. Weapon involvement, a prior record, and the condition of the alleged victim are all factors that drive how aggressively prosecutors pursue these cases.

How My Prosecution Background Shapes My Defense Approach

Having worked cases from both sides of the courtroom, I know how Oklahoma County prosecutors evaluate assault filings. I know which factors push a case toward felony charges, which ones tend to produce reduced offers, and where weaknesses in the state’s evidence typically appear. That perspective isn’t something you get from books.

When I review a new case, I’m looking at whether a weapon is alleged, whether my client has prior convictions, and whether the alleged victim falls into a category that could draw enhanced penalties. Those details determine both the realistic range of outcomes and where a defense has the most traction.