Assault in the third degree means someone on purpose hurts another person. This is normally a class E felony, but if the person who got hurt is a "special victim" (like a child, elderly person, or officer), the charge becomes a class D felony, which is more serious.
Classifications stated in the statute. Actual outcomes vary.
565.054. . — 1. A person commits the of assault in the third degree if he or she causes to another person.
2. The offense of assault in the third degree is a , unless the victim of such is a , as the term "special victim" is defined under section 565.002, in which case it is a .
Tap any gold-underlined word to see what it means.
Red section numbers link to that law.
Source & history notes
(L. 1977 S.B. 60, A.L. 1998 H.B. 1918, A.L. 2014 S.B. 491) Transferred 2014; formerly 565.070; Effective 1-01-17 (2015) Offense of third-degree assault is a "nested" lesser included offense within the offense of second-degree assault; therefore, defendant is entitled upon proper request to jury instruction on issue. State v. Randle, 465 S.W.3d 477 (Mo.).
Related Missouri laws
Assault, second degree, penalty
RSMo 565.052
Assault in the fourth degree
RSMo 565.056
Assault, first degree, penalty
RSMo 565.050
Special victims
RSMo 565.058
Death penalty, if held unconstitutional, resentencing procedure
RSMo 565.040
Domestic assault, first degree
RSMo 565.072
Legal information, not legal advice. Always confirm with the official source at revisor.mo.gov.