---
title: "What are common defenses to a felony assault charge in Rhode Island?"
description: "Common defenses to a felony assault charge in Rhode Island focus on the aggravating factors and on what actually happened. Self-defense is frequent, since a person is allowed to use reasonable force..."
url: https://bankandmunns.com/faq-items/what-are-common-defenses-to-a-felony-assault-charge-in-rhode-island/
date: 2026-08-19
modified: 2026-08-19
author: "Bank and Munns"
type: avada_faq
lang: en
---

# What are common defenses to a felony assault charge in Rhode Island?

Common defenses to a felony assault charge in Rhode Island focus on the aggravating factors and on what actually happened. Self-defense is frequent, since a person is allowed to use reasonable force to protect themselves from a threat, and where that applies it can defeat the charge entirely. Another line of defense challenges whether a felony-level factor was really present, arguing that the object involved was not a dangerous weapon or that the injury did not rise to the level of serious bodily injury, which can push the charge toward misdemeanor territory. Identity can be at issue where it is unclear who did what in a chaotic incident, and the credibility and consistency of witnesses is often contested. Because a felony assault case usually turns on these specific points, the right defense depends on close examination of the evidence rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.