A child care worker in her mid-40s was recently charged with assault on a police officer in Roanoke City General District Court. She had gotten into a complex situation; after drinking, she got into a fight. It resulted in her pushing someone who broke their arm while falling. When the police arrived, she kicked an officer in the chest to avoid being arrested. In Virginia, assault on a police officer is a Class 6 felony with a 6-month mandatory minimum. She was also charged with assault, battery, and public intoxication.
After being charged, she reached out to us to see what could be done. She had two priors on her criminal history – assault on a police officer and public intoxication. Subsequent convictions would have a great impact on her career and her future. Michelle Derrico attended one court date on our client’s behalf and negotiated to defend her rights. Simple assault and battery were not prosecuted, and the assault on a police officer charge was reduced to simple assault with 12 months suspended and 20 days to serve on the weekends.