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Crimes Against People
RSMo 565.050effective 01 Jan 2017

Assault, first degree, penalty

In plain English

Assault in the first degree means someone tries to kill another person, or tries to seriously hurt them, or actually does seriously hurt them. It is a class B felony, but it becomes a more serious class A felony if the person actually causes serious physical injury or if the victim is a 'special victim.'

Penalties named in this law
class B felony5–15 years in prison
class A felony10–30 years or life in prison

Classifications stated in the statute. Actual outcomes vary.

Word-for-word law

565.050. , first degree, . — 1. A person commits the of assault in the first degree if he or she attempts to kill or causes or attempts to cause to another person.

2. The offense of assault in the first degree is a unless in the course thereof the person inflicts serious physical injury on the victim, or if the victim of such assault is a , as the term "special victim" is defined under section 565.002, in which case it is a .

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Red section numbers link to that law.

Source & history notes

(L. 1977 S.B. 60, A.L. 1983 S.B. 276, A.L. 1984 S.B. 448 § A, A.L. 2014 S.B. 491) Effective 1-01-17 No bail, certain defendants, certain offenses, 544.671

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Legal information, not legal advice. Always confirm with the official source at revisor.mo.gov.

RSMo 565.050: Assault, first degree, penalty | KnowMo Laws