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Defendant pleads to aggravated-assault-related charge; plea includes affirmative family-violence finding and deferred adjudication request
Summary
In arraignment for Raheem Asaphore, the court accepted stipulated exhibits and accepted a plea that set punishment to be assessed at a 12-year cap with a $1,500 fine; the plea included an affirmative family-violence finding and sought deferred adjudication, and the court ordered a PSI and TAP evaluation.
The court called cause involving Raheem Asaphore and confirmed that the parties had reviewed discovery and the defendant had signed plea and waiver documents. Defense counsel Joanne April confirmed on the record that she reviewed the documents with her client; the prosecutor advised the court the State would proceed on count 1 while waiving count 2.
The judge advised Asaphore of the charged offense (aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, a second-degree felony) and the applicable punishment ranges. Counsel and the defendant waived reading of the indictment and the defendant waived jury trial and other constitutional rights on the record.
Under the plea agreement the State said punishment would be assessed at a cap of 12 years in prison with a $1,500 fine; the State opposed applications for community supervision. The plea also included an affirmative finding of family violence and an affirmative finding as to a deadly weapon. The court accepted stipulated testimony and States Exhibits 1 and attachments and, after review, found sufficient evidence to find guilt and deferred the formal finding of guilt on the defendant’s application for deferred adjudication.
The court set follow-up tasks: the defense requested and the court ordered a presentence investigation (PSI) and a TAP (treatment assessment program) evaluation; counsel and the court discussed scheduling a PSI and coordinated a date for appearance associated with assessment and supervision needs.
The court emphasized the defendant’s waiver of appeal rights tied to the plea agreement and confirmed that, should deferred adjudication be revoked, the defendant could face the statutory range described on the record.
