Forest Acres Assault Lawyer
A person commits assault when they cause the apprehension of imminent harmful or offensive contact. A person commits battery when they actually cause a harmful or offensive contact (i.e., injury). It is possible to commit and assault without a battery. The charge of assault is punishable to the same extent as assault and battery.
If you are charged with assault, or assault and battery, contact a Forest Acres assault lawyer. A skilled criminal defense attorney could help in a number of ways to reduce the consequences and obtain the most favorable result possible in your case.
Assault and Battery of a High and Aggravated Nature
If a person commits an assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature which causes great bodily injury or would be likely to cause such an injury, they could be charged with a felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison.
Note that bodily harm need not actually occur for a person to be charged with Aggravated Assault. The law only requires the likelihood of great bodily harm. “Great bodily harm,” in this case, means that which carries a substantial risk of death or permanent impairment.
First Degree Assault and Battery
If, due to an assault and battery, a person injures another person and that assault took place during a robbery, burglary, kidnapping, or theft, that person could be charged with assault and battery in the first degree. This crime could result in a felony conviction and up to 10 years in prison.
It is also possible to commit a first-degree degree assault and battery against another if injury occurs and the act involves nonconsensual touching of the victim’s private parts. This type of assault is also punishable by a prison sentence of up to 10 years and felony criminal record.
Second Degree Assault and Battery
A second-degree assault and battery occurs when moderate bodily injury is caused or attempted. It is also considered second-degree assault and battery to touch another’s private parts without consent.
Moderate bodily injury involves prolonged loss of consciousness, minor disfigurement, fracture or dislocation of a bone, or temporary loss of organ function. This crime is a misdemeanor which could lead to up to 3 years in a state prison and/or a fine of $2,500.
Third Degree Assault and Battery
Third-degree assault and battery is the least severe and occurs when a person unlawfully injures or attempts to injure another person. This crime is a misdemeanor and if convicted, a defendant could face 30 days in jail and a fine of up to $500.
Assault with a Deadly Weapon
If an assault or assault and battery is committed with a deadly weapon, or while carrying a deadly weapon concealed or otherwise, they could be separately charged for committing an assault with a deadly weapon. This is a misdemeanor crime for which a conviction carries a mandatory three-month jail sentence up to 12 months imprisonment. There is a mandatory $200 fine for this crime as well. For more information about the consequences of an assault and battery conviction, it is best to speak to a knowledgeable attorney in Forest Acres.
Call a Forest Acres Assault Attorney Today
A conviction for assault, or assault and battery, could have serious consequences in Forest Acres. You don’t have to face such a charge alone. An attorney could help make sure that you do not receive a more severe sentence than is warranted in the case of conviction and could fight to prove your innocence.
If you are charged with an assault or related crime, contact a Forest Acres assault lawyer. Learn about your rights. Learn about your options. Call today.