Fort Lauderdale Battery Defense Attorney
The Difference Between Assault and Battery
Assault and battery are often grouped together, but they are defined separately
under the law. While assault involves the threatening of physical harm,
battery is defined as an act in which actual physical contact is made
against the will of another person that usually results in harm. More
specifically,
Florida Code § 784.03 defines battery as one person actually and intentionally touching or striking
another person or intentionally causing another person bodily harm.
This offense is typically charged as a misdemeanor in the first degree;
however, there are varying degrees of battery, and a defendant may end
up facing felony charges if the injuries caused result in death, permanent
disabilities or disfigurement. For this reason, it may be in your best
interest to enlist the help of an experienced criminal defense attorney
in Fort Lauderdale if you have been charged with battery – even
if the charges do not seem that serious.
The penalties for a first degree misdemeanor may include:
- Up to one year in county jail
- Up to $1,000 in fines
- Up to one year of probation
The Penalties for Aggravated Battery in Florida
In Florida, your charges could be increased to "aggravated battery"
if it can be proven that you had a) intentionally or knowingly caused
another person great bodily harm, permanent disability or permanent disfigurement,
b) used a deadly weapon during the assault or c) committed a battery offense
against a person who you knew, or should have known, was pregnant. This
is a felony in the second degree, so you should not attempt to fight these
charges alone.
The penalties for a second degree felony may include:
- Up to fifteen years in state prison
- Up to $10,000 in fines
- Up to fifteen years of probation
Building a Strong Defense Against Your Battery Charges
Once you contact Parks & Braxton, PA about your charges, we will be
assertive in the investigation and defense of your rights. It may be that
your rights were violated during your arrest, the evidence brought against
you is faulty, you were acting in self-defense, you were standing your
ground or the other party consented to "mutual combat." Whatever
the situation may be, you can be confident that we will pursue every method
of defense on your behalf.
The penalties for battery in Florida will increase depending on whether
you are charged with simple battery, aggravated battery or felony battery.
If you have any prior convictions, keep in mind that this is another "strike"
according to the three strikes law, and you must take these charges seriously.
Don't hesitate to secure the help of an experienced attorney at our
firm. We have
successfully handled thousands of criminal charges, and we are here to help you.
Don't Fight Your Charges Alone – Set Up Your Free Consult Today
If you have been accused of battery, it is highly recommended that you
contact our firm immediately so that we can begin reviewing the circumstances
surrounding your arrest. In order to fight for reduced charges and to
prove your innocence, it is important for the evidence to be fresh. At
Parks & Braxton, PA, we are intimately familiar with battery cases
and the defense strategies that have proven to be effective in court.
Our Fort Lauderdale criminal defense lawyers have successfully handled
thousands of cases, and they are ready to take on even the most challenging
of charges. We have the power to fight and the knowledge to win.
Contact our firm 24/7 to schedule your
free initial consultation.
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