Assault, by itself, is a crime. But the penalties for that crime are largely dependent on the nature of the assault. You may have heard of the terms simple assault, aggravated assault, and assault & battery. What do these terms mean and what are the implications for someone facing these charges?
Simple Assault
The act of assault is committed if a person attempts to use force against another person, or even if he or she simply demonstrates an intention to use force against another. Basically, you can assault someone without ever physically touching that person, if he or she feared immediate physical harm. You can even be charged with assault if the person did not know about the intended assault. What does that mean? Well, consider the following example. If you attempt to punch someone in the back but the person bends down and you miss, you can be charged with assault even if he or she wasn’t aware of the incoming punch. If there was a threat of harm, or the intention to harm, you may find yourself on the receiving end of an assault charge.
Assault & Battery
Although this act sounds significantly worse than “simple assault”, you can still be charged with assault & battery even if no injuries were suffered. As long as there is physical contact, without the victim’s consent, you may have committed assault & battery. In order for “battery” to be present the touching must have been intentional, harmful or offensive, and without the victim’s consent. Interestingly, intent to harm is not a prerequisite of battery charges, however, an intent to make bodily contact is. A skilled Boston assault & battery lawyer is your best defense against these very serious charges.
Aggravated Assault
When “aggravating” factors are present during an assault on a victim, the charge may be raised to aggravated assault. What is an aggravating circumstance? Basically, if a weapon is used, if the victim is a law enforcement officer, or if the victim suffered serious injuries, you will likely be charged with aggravated assault. You can also face aggravated assault charges if the injuries suffered were not serious, but the intent to cause serious injury can be shown. If you are facing aggravated assault charges, it is imperative that you seek the counsel of an experienced MA aggravated assault lawyer immediately.
Penalties for Different Types of Assault
Simple assault and assault & battery are generally considered to be misdemeanor offenses. If, however, you are facing the more serious charge of aggravated assault, you may be looking at felony charges.
- Assault and assault & battery are both punishable by fines of up to $1,000 and up to two-and-a-half years in jail.
- Assault that causes bodily injury to a child is punishable by up to five years in prison. If the bodily injury is substantial, the punishment can be up to 15 years in prison.
- Committing assault & battery against a firefighter or a police officer is punishable by up to 10 years in prison.
- An act of assault with the intent to murder, disfigure, or commit a felony is punishable by up to 10 years in prison.
Altman & Altman, LLP – Criminal Defense Attorneys Serving All of MA
If you have been charged with assault, the skilled legal team at Altman & Altman, LLP can help. We have been protecting the rights of individuals charged with crimes for more than 50 years, and we have an impressive track record of getting clients’ charges reduced, or dropped entirely. Our knowledgeable attorneys will analyze the details of your case to determine the appropriate strategy, and we will position you for the most favorable outcome possible. If you’ve been charged with any type of crime, contact Altman & Altman, LLP today for a free and confidential consultation about your case. Our attorney’s are available around the clock, 617-492-3000.