Living on campus is an integral part of your college experience. However, with so many young adults in constant close quarters with each other, arguments and fights can be more prevalent on college campuses than out in the general public.
These disputes can lead the school to take punitive measures. They are also violations of Texas state law.
Assault
Not only is it illegal to intentionally cause bodily injury to someone else, but you could get into trouble for threatening bodily injury, even if you do not physically harm the person at all. You could also be violating the law if you touch a person in a way that you know the other person will find offensive or provoking. A person could accuse you of assault even if he or she started the conflict.
A conviction could be a misdemeanor or felony, depending on details such as the nature of the harm, whether you have a previous conviction and who the other person is.
Aggravated assault
The offense becomes an aggravated assault if the bodily injury is serious, as in the case of:
- Permanent disfigurement
- Body organ impairment or loss
- Risk of fatality
- Fatality
You could also face aggravated assault charges if you have a weapon that you show the other person during the altercation, whether or not you use it to cause harm.
The difference between a second degree and first degree felony conviction involves factors such as whether the other person is a security officer or public servant, whether you discharged a firearm recklessly from a moving vehicle and other circumstances.