How is assault legally defined?

The legal definition of assault is centered on the intentional act that causes another person to apprehend harmful or offensive contact. This means that assault does not require physical harm to be inflicted; instead, it focuses on the victim's perception of impending harm.

When a person commits an act that leads another individual to reasonably fear that they will be subjected to harmful contact, this fits the legal framework for assault. This focus on the psychological aspect of the act is what differentiates assault from other crimes, such as battery, which involves actual physical contact.

The other choices, while alluding to separate criminal actions, do not align with the specific legal definition of assault. For instance, inflicting physical harm relates more to battery, stealing property describes theft, and making threats without physical contact pertains to different forms of intimidation or harassment, but does not encompass the complete essence of the legal definition of assault.