Assault may be prosecuted in one of two ways: by summary conviction or by indictment. Almost invariably, a simple assault will be prosecuted by summary conviction. If convicted following a trial by summary conviction, you are liable to a fine of up to $2,000 or 18 months' imprisonment or both. Our office can help you understand the specifics of your case and the potential penalties you may be facing. Contact our office to schedule an appointment.

An assault is the intentional application of force, directly or indirectly, to another person without that person's consent. An assault may also take the form of an attempt or threat, by an act or gesture, to apply force to another person. In this case, however, the Crown must prove you had the present ability to carry out the assault or that the victim believed you did. The degree of alarm felt by the person threatened is irrelevant to a finding of guilt as is your intent to carry out the threat. The threat must cause apprehension of immediate personal violence; a threat to inflict harm at an unspecified time in the future is not an assault. Words alone, while they may be a threat, cannot constitute an assault.

Our office is mainly focused on cases in London, Ontario and surrounding areas, although in some circumstances we have taken on cases outside of this area. Ellis Criminal Law has assisted clients from coast to coast - travelling to British Columbia, Halifax and the far north to defend clients. We have also assisted clients in the United States and Europe. We are willing to travel to assist you. If you're interested in obtaining legal counsel from Ellis Criminal Law please call our office and set up an appointment so we can review the specifics of your case.