First Time Assault at a Bar

[marlowe123]

My question involves criminal law for the state of: Denver

I was intoxicated in a bar last night, talking loud/using profanity on my cellphone. The bartender told me to knock it off, I disagreed, but decided it wasn't worth the trouble. I'm walking out of the place and turned to get one last word into the bartender, he jumps the counter and comes at me, I knock him out cold in self defense and get jumped by about 5 bouncers, none of which i assaulted. I am put in jail overnight and paid a 500$ bond to get out. I am facing assault charges and disturbing the peace. I'm 26, never been even close to being in trouble with the law, no record whatsoever. I'm not sure how to handle this, I am at fault for letting things escalate, but I feel like it was more self defense than assault. Where I made the mistake is that I threw the first punch, and it was the only one thrown. I'm worried about what's going to happen, can someone give me some advice.

[Mr. Knowitall]

I would suggest retaining a lawyer to represent you.

I suspect that your "self-defense" argument is going to be weak in the face of the accounts of the bouncers and bartender. Are there any other witnesses? (It sounds like it was a big bar, to have that type of staffing.) How about security video?

[stupidpplsuck]

Theres also the part about self defense that requires you to use the minimal amount of force to meet a reasonable threat. Put up your hands, step back, defend yourself. Cold cocking someone to the head and putting them out with a punch is gonna be a hard sell to a jury ...especially you had been drinking and causing a ruckuss before the incident.

[marlowe123]

I don't know if there was security video, I didn't even get to see the statements made. I got one of the most high powered lawyers here, he represents a lot of big time athletes and such, but I am getting worried because I'm not getting very good communication from him or his associates so far. Plus his fee for handling this was cheap I thought @ 5K. I'm scared out of my wits and just want this to go away. In my industry, criminal charges no matter how small are detrimental to your career, felony or not. I'm thinking about just moving out of the country before my court date and just living as a fugitive the rest of my life.

I wish I could just pay someone off and make this go away. I'd give someone 100K to make this disappear, can anyone help?

[marlowe123]

Found this on Richard Simmons, looks like he paid the guy and got free. Is this something I can try?

MAY 25--Arrested in March for b-slapping a Harley Davidson salesman/ex-con/cage wrestler at an Arizona airport, Richard Simmons is now officially in the legal clear. A misdemeanor assault charge against the diet guru, 54, was dismissed last Friday by a Phoenix judge, according to the below Municipal Court records. The dismissal came as part of a "misdemeanor compromise" requested last week by slapee Chris Farney and signed off on by the city prosecutor. Such a compromise can include monetary compensation for the victim, but Simmons's lawyer, James Nesci, declined to say whether Farney, 23, was paid. Citing a confidentiality agreement, Farney told TSG he could not discuss terms of his settlement with Simmons. We're guessing Farney opted for a little green instead of a protracted litigation that surely would have dredged up his rap sheet and the nearly three years he spent in prison for an aggravated assault conviction (a buddy was seriously injured when a drugged-up Farney crashed his car). Simmons was busted following a confrontation with Farney--pictured at left in an Arizona Department of Corrections mug shot--at the Sky Harbor International Airport. The trouble started when Farney (6' 1" and 255 pounds) spotted Simmons (5' 7", 155 pounds) and called out, "Look, Richard Simmons. Drop your bags, let's rock to the 50's." According to a Phoenix Police Department incident report, Simmons responded by walking over to Farney and announcing, "It's not nice to make fun of people with issues." He then slapped Farney in the kisser. The motorcycle salesman then called the cops, who popped Simmons for assault. (3 pages)