Assault, Battery

Florida Assault and Battery Defense Lawyer

The line between a heated argument and a crime can be very thin. Just grabbing someone's arm or raising your voice could bring an allegation of assault or battery. The degree of injury, even if slight, can determine a jail sentence or not.

What is Assault?

Florida law defines an assault as "an intentional, unlawful threat by word or act to do violence to another person." You don't have to actually harm someone to commit an assault. You can be found guilty of assault if the other person believed he or she was in danger of being hurt.

Battery involves intentionally touching or striking another person or intentionally causing bodily harm to another person.

Serious Consequences

Depending on the specific circumstances of the case, an assault and battery may be charged as a misdemeanor or a felony. A misdemeanor assault conviction can result in imprisonment for up to 60 days, misdemeanor battery for up to one year.

Conviction on felony charges and aggravated assault or battery charges carry longer sentences and heavier fines.

At the Klotz Law Firm, our highest priority is to keep you out of jail. Our second priority is to keep your criminal record as clean as possible. A conviction on your record can have lasting negative consequences that may prevent you from getting a job, credit, and certain government assistance.

Our attorney, J. Christopher Klotz, has more than 15 years of experience representing people just like you. He will fight to protect your rights and achieve a positive outcome in your case. To schedule a free consultation and case evaluation, please do not hesitate to contact us today.