How do I deal with assault charges?

a sworn complaint has been filed against me for assault. i am a single mom of a 4 year old son and unemployed. i can not afford to hire legal help. i was walking with my son outside of my apartment. an unsupervised 9 year old girl was playing around being silly on the 3rd floor of my building, of which she does not live in. she threw a gatorade bottle down and struck me in the head with it. i asked her why did she do it and she said that she didn't know. i encouraged her always show respect for me and her elders and i slapped her on the left side of her face and went inside and asked her to leave my building and indicated that i never want to see her around my building. well needless to say, she always around my door and building and always unsupervised. later the police came and took a report on my side of the story and indicated that i maybe facing assault charges and jail time. the police said that i could not file a report against her because she is a minor. Irving, TX

you can file a report against her parent or guardian. i would also be placing a call to child services to inquire why this minor child is always unsupervied in a strange apartment building in which she does not reside.
And next time keep your hands to yourself, you had no right to touch her, regardless of what she did, you were out of line. And you may face jail time and charges, the judge may let you off sometimes if you agree to go to anger management, which i think you could use regardless.
You might want to call around and see if anyone will take your case pro bono (meaning you dont have to pay). Should you be charged and you have no lawyer, you will be appointed a public defender

YOU DONT EVER HIT SOMEONE ELSE'S KIDS, MORON! I WOULD HAVE KNOCKED YOU OUT IF YOU WOULD HAVE TOUCHED MY KID.

Although I do agree, kids sometimes need to be punished but you had no right what so ever to slap this child.. I'm sorry but in this case you were wrong and that is assault seeing that you took it upon yourself to correct a child in a way which was uncalled for even if the child was wrong, you are an adult.

I'm sorry, but I live ina building where kids can throw things and I got sand in my hair and face the first day I moved here. I didnt run up and hit the kid. You are lucky it wasn't my child. I don't know why you would admit to such things on Yahoo Answers!