Aggravated Assault
Fighting for your rights, we ensure they are preserved.
An Overview
What's Truly at Stake
When a aggravated assault matter enters your life, the consequences extend far beyond a single courtroom appearance. Your reputation, your career, your relationships, and in many cases your liberty itself hang in the balance. The decisions you make in the first hours and days after charges are filed will shape every chapter that follows. This is precisely the moment when experience, judgment, and the steady hand of a seasoned trial attorney matter most. At Kelley Law, Thomas H. Kelley VI brings nearly three decades of courtroom mastery to bear on every case he accepts—drawing on his unmatched perspective as a former First Assistant District Attorney, a retired Trial Judge, and a respected law professor whose insights have shaped a generation of advocates.
Understanding the Charges
A aggravated assault charge is rarely a single, simple accusation. The Commonwealth often layers related counts, enhancements, and aggravating factors that dramatically alter the consequences of conviction. Tom Kelley begins every case with a meticulous examination of the charging documents, the affidavit of probable cause, and the underlying investigative materials. This early diagnostic work uncovers weaknesses in the prosecution's theory and reveals the full architecture of what you actually face—not the simplified version offered by police or prosecutors.
The Investigative Record
Most cases are won or lost in the investigative record long before trial begins. Witness statements taken in haste, body camera footage that contradicts written reports, forensic procedures that deviate from accepted protocols—these are the raw materials of an effective defense. Kelley Law obtains, reviews, and challenges the entire evidentiary file with the trained eye of a former prosecutor who knows precisely where mistakes are made.
Constitutional Protections
The Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Amendments are not abstract principles. They are practical, daily protections that govern how police may stop, search, question, and accuse the citizens they serve. When those boundaries are crossed, evidence may be suppressed and entire prosecutions can collapse. Tom Kelley litigates pretrial motions with the same intensity he brings to trial, because a single granted suppression motion can change everything.
Building Your Narrative
Every case has a human story behind the legal one, and juries respond to truth told well. Kelley Law invests the time required to understand who you are, what brought you to this moment, and what is genuinely at stake. The defense narrative is built collaboratively with you—shaped by your voice, supported by independent investigation, and refined through years of trial experience.
Negotiation From Strength
Skilled negotiation is the product of meticulous preparation. Prosecutors evaluate every defense attorney across the table, and they recognize the difference between counsel who will accept the first plea offered and counsel who is genuinely prepared to try the case. Tom Kelley's reputation precedes him in every Central Pennsylvania courthouse, and that reputation translates directly into better resolutions for clients who prefer to avoid trial.
A Clear Path Forward
Ready to Discuss Your Case?
A confidential conversation with Tom Kelley is the first step toward protecting your rights, your freedom, and your future.
Trial Readiness
When trial is the right path, Kelley Law is exhaustively prepared. With over 250 jury trials and a 99% success rate, Tom Kelley has tried more cases than most attorneys will see in an entire career. Jury selection, opening statements, cross-examination, expert testimony, and closing argument are honed disciplines that cannot be taught in a single seminar—they are earned in courtrooms over decades.
Sentencing Advocacy
If a case results in conviction or negotiated plea, sentencing is its own decisive proceeding. Pennsylvania's sentencing guidelines are complex, and the difference between an aggressive recommendation and a thoughtful, mitigated outcome often turns on how effectively counsel presents your circumstances, your history, and your future. Kelley Law treats sentencing with the same seriousness as trial.
Collateral Consequences
A criminal record reaches into employment, housing, professional licensure, immigration status, firearm rights, and family law proceedings for years after a case closes. Tom Kelley counsels clients on the full landscape of collateral consequences and pursues outcomes—diversionary programs, expungements, ARD, pardons—that protect long-term interests, not merely short-term ones.
Communication and Access
Anxiety in a criminal case is amplified by silence. Kelley Law operates on the principle that clients deserve real, ongoing communication with the attorney handling their matter. You will know what is happening, why it is happening, and what comes next at every stage. There is no surrogate for direct attorney access.
A Defense Built To Last
The legal system is adversarial by design, and the citizen accused stands alone unless represented by counsel of equal stature. Kelley Law exists to even that balance. From the first phone call to the final disposition, Tom Kelley brings the experience of every side of the bench to the singular task of defending you.
Our Approach
Three Pillars of the Defense
Aggressive Defense
Every avenue explored. Every right protected. No stone left unturned.
Trial-Tested
Over 250 jury trials and a 99% success rate spanning nearly three decades.
Personalized Strategy
Hands-on counsel from Tom Kelley directly — not a junior associate.
Common Questions
Frequently Asked
What are the potential penalties for aggravated assault charges in Pennsylvania?
Penalties vary widely based on the specific charge, prior record, and circumstances of the alleged offense. They may range from probation and fines to lengthy state incarceration. The earlier Kelley Law is engaged, the more strategic options remain available to mitigate or eliminate exposure.
Should I speak with police or prosecutors before retaining a lawyer?
No. You have an absolute right to remain silent and to have counsel present. Statements made before counsel is retained are routinely used to build the prosecution's case. Politely decline questions and contact Kelley Law immediately.
How quickly should I act after being charged?
Time is the most precious resource in any criminal matter. Evidence can be lost, witnesses become unavailable, and prosecutorial momentum builds quickly. The sooner counsel is engaged, the more thoroughly your defense can be prepared.
Will Tom Kelley personally handle my case?
Yes. Kelley Law is built around Tom's direct, hands-on involvement with each client. From initial consultation to trial, you will work with Tom himself.
Is the consultation confidential?
Absolutely. All conversations are protected by attorney-client privilege from the moment you reach out, regardless of whether you ultimately retain the firm.