Georgia Man Turns Himself in After Shooting Girlfriend

Kenneth Hines turned himself in to the Clayton County Sheriff's Office after a warrant was set out charging him in the shooting of his girlfriend.

He turned himself in after a two day manhunt in Jonesboro. According to reports, Hines shot his girlfriend early last Thursday morning in their apartment.

As of right now, Hines is facing aggravated assault charges but he could be facing even more serious charges if the victim's condition worsens. As a Georgia Criminal Defense Lawyer, I will outline the law behind aggravated assault in today's post.

Aggravated Assault in Georgia

In order to understand the law behind aggravated assault, it is important to first understand the law behind the criminal offense of assault in Georgia. Assault is defined in O.C.G.A. §16-5-20 as:

A person commits the offense of simple assault when he or she either (1) attempts to commit a violent injury to the person of another; or (2) commits an act which places another in reasonable apprehension of immediately receiving a violent injury.

Aggravated assault in Georgia is defined in O.C.G.A. § 16-5-21 as:

A person commits the offense of aggravated assault when he or she assaults:

• with intent to murder, to rape, or to rob;
• With a deadly weapon or with any object, device, or instrument which, when used offensively against a person, is likely to or actually does result in serious bodily injury;
• With any object, device, or instrument which, when used offensively against a person, is likely to or actually does result in strangulation; or
• A person or persons without legal justification by discharging a firearm from within a motor vehicle toward a person or persons.

Aggravated assault is classified as a felony in the state of Georgia. The penalty for an aggravated assault conviction is a prison term between one to twenty years.

Practice Note

If you or a loved one has been arrested for a crime in Georgia, contact our offices now. A Georgia Criminal Defense Attorney can help you now.