Being charged with aggravated assault is one of the most frightening experiences a person can face. You’re looking at a felony, the possibility of years in prison, and a system that starts moving against you immediately. The lawyer you choose in the days after an arrest is not a minor decision — in these cases, it is frequently the decision that determines the outcome. This article explains why Varghese Summersett has become one of the go-to firms in North Texas for people facing these exact charges.

If you want the case-specific breakdown of how the firm handles these matters in Tarrant County — including local bond data, documented dismissals, and courthouse dynamics — start with their overview of what a Fort Worth aggravated assault lawyer does on these cases. What follows is the bigger picture of why this team is built to win them.

Aggravated Assault Is Too Serious for a General Practitioner

Aggravated assault under Texas Penal Code § 22.02 is a felony carrying two to twenty years in prison as a baseline, and five to ninety-nine years or life once enhancements apply — for example, when the case involves a family member, a public servant, or a firearm discharged from a vehicle. It’s also a 3G offense, which means a judge cannot grant probation after a trial conviction and parole eligibility is delayed until at least half the sentence is served.

Charges this serious demand a firm that specializes in violent-crime defense, not one that dabbles in it. That’s the first reason Varghese Summersett stands out: this is core work for the firm, not a side practice. With more than 100 years of combined experience defending people accused of violent crimes in Tarrant County, the depth of the bench matches the severity of the charge.

Former Prosecutors Who Handled These Exact Charges

One of the biggest advantages Varghese Summersett brings to an aggravated assault case is a roster of former prosecutors who once handled these same charges from the other side of the courtroom.

Tiffany Burks, who leads the firm’s criminal division, spent 22 years as a prosecutor in the Tarrant County District Attorney’s Office and retired as a deputy chief. She has handled thousands of criminal cases, from misdemeanors to murders, and now applies that insider knowledge to the defense. Christy Jack brings more than 20 years of prosecutorial experience, including time as chief of the Family Violence Unit and the Crimes Against Children Unit, and has tried more than 100 cases before Texas juries.

That background isn’t a résumé line — it’s a strategic edge. A lawyer who has built aggravated assault cases for the State knows how prosecutors evaluate evidence, where their cases are weak, what they fear at trial, and how they decide what to offer in negotiation. That perspective shapes every stage of the defense.

Board Certified Specialists

Varghese Summersett has five Board Certified attorneys — the highest level of specialization recognized by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, held by only a small fraction of lawyers in the state. Benson Varghese, Anna Summersett, and Letty Martinez are Board Certified in Criminal Law, and Lisa Herrick and Mike Hanson are Board Certified in Juvenile Law.

Board certification signals that an attorney has demonstrated substantial trial experience, passed a rigorous examination, and been vetted by peers and judges. When your freedom is on the line, that credential is a meaningful marker of the difference between a general criminal lawyer and a genuine specialist.

A Track Record That Speaks for Itself

Credentials matter, but results are what actually count. Varghese Summersett has secured more than 1,600 dismissals and 800 charge reductions across all criminal case types, including multiple aggravated assault dismissals in Fort Worth.

The specifics matter here. In one Tarrant County case, attorney Tiffany Burks represented a client charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and the charge was dismissed. The firm’s case history also reflects grand jury no-bills in serious-bodily-injury cases, outright dismissals in deadly-weapon cases, and favorable outcomes in related violent offenses like assault family violence, continuous family violence, and deadly conduct.

No firm can promise a result, and past outcomes never guarantee future ones. But a documented history of dismissals and no-bills in exactly the charge you’re facing tells you the team knows how to attack these cases — not just process them.

They Know How to Use the Grand Jury Stage

In Tarrant County, an aggravated assault charge has to go through a grand jury before it can proceed. Most defendants don’t realize this is an opportunity rather than a formality. Before the grand jury decides whether to indict, a skilled defense team can present a grand jury packet — evidence, witness statements, and legal argument designed to persuade the jurors not to move the case forward. A “no bill” means no indictment, no trial, and no felony conviction.

Varghese Summersett has secured these no-bills in aggravated assault cases, which means the firm knows how to build and time a packet effectively. This window is short and easy to miss without experienced counsel, which is one more reason early representation from a firm that knows the process pays off.

Trial-Ready, Which Creates Leverage Even in Negotiation

Prosecutors calibrate their plea offers to the lawyer across the table. A firm known only for pleading cases out has little leverage; a firm with a real record of taking cases to verdict has a great deal. Because Varghese Summersett’s attorneys have collectively tried well over 100 cases before Texas juries, prosecutors know the firm is prepared to go the distance.

That reputation produces better plea terms when a negotiated resolution serves the client, and a credible, prepared defense when it doesn’t. Either way, the client benefits from the firm’s willingness and ability to try the case.

Local Knowledge of the Tarrant County Courthouse

Where a case is prosecuted matters as much as how. Varghese Summersett’s Fort Worth office sits steps from the Tim Curry Criminal Justice Center, and the firm’s attorneys appear in those courtrooms regularly. They know the judges, the prosecutors, and the day-to-day rhythms of how aggravated assault cases move through the local system.

That familiarity translates into sound judgment — knowing which arguments land with which judges, how a particular prosecutor values a case, and how to navigate the process efficiently. It’s an advantage that out-of-town or unfamiliar attorneys simply can’t replicate.

Resources and Responsiveness

Aggravated assault defense is resource-intensive. Evidence has to be preserved before it disappears, independent investigations launched, experts consulted, and motions litigated. Varghese Summersett is backed by more than 70 team members across four offices in Fort Worth, Dallas, Southlake, and Houston — the infrastructure to move fast and thoroughly on a serious case.

Just as important, the firm answers. Consultations are free, confidential, and available 24 hours a day. When you call, you speak with a criminal defense attorney — not a call center or a paralegal. In a moment of crisis, being able to reach a real lawyer, day or night, is not a small thing.

What Working With the Firm Looks Like

From the first call, the process is structured to protect you:

• Free, confidential consultation. You speak directly with a defense attorney, who assesses the case and explains your options.
• Strategy session and case review. Once retained, your attorney reviews every detail of the arrest, evidence, and the prosecution’s theory to identify the strongest angles.
• Active defense from day one. The firm investigates immediately and engages prosecutors early rather than waiting for the State to build its case.
• Constant communication. You have 24/7 access to your legal team and stay informed at every stage.

The Bottom Line

An aggravated assault charge is serious, but it is defensible — and the firm you choose is the biggest variable in how it ends. Varghese Summersett brings the combination that these cases demand: former prosecutors who handled the same charges, five Board Certified specialists, a documented record of dismissals and no-bills, trial experience that creates real leverage, deep knowledge of the Tarrant County courthouse, and the resources to fight hard from day one.

If you or someone you love has been charged with aggravated assault in Fort Worth or anywhere in Tarrant County, the most important step you can take is to get experienced counsel involved quickly. Every day without a defense attorney is a day the prosecution gets ahead. A firm built specifically to fight these charges is exactly what the moment calls for.