Fort Lauderdale Criminal Lawyer Talks About Assault and Battery

Fort Lauderdale Criminal Lawyers explain that Assault and battery are not normally charged to a person for the same action. To understand this, you must understand the differences between an assault charge and a battery charge. An assault is committed when you intentionally and unlawfully threaten another person by word or action to harm or do violence to the other person and it must be "coupled with an apparent ability to do so, and doing some act which creates a well-founded fear" that the violence in imminent to the other person (F.S. §784.011).

A battery occurs when you intentionally touch or hit another person against their will or you intentionally cause bodily harm to another person (F.S. §784.03). Fort Lauderdale Criminal Lawyer William Moore advises contacting him immediately following any altercation that may result in an arrest.

If you threaten a person with a baseball bat, or swing and miss, this may be considered assault. If you actually hit him with the bat, this may be considered battery.

If you have a prior conviction for battery, including aggravated battery or felony battery, the punishment will be aggravated. A conviction means there was a determination of guilt in your previous case, even if adjudication was withheld or you entered a plea of nolo contendere.

Simple assault and battery are misdemeanors under Florida law but may be aggravated to felony charges if certain facts are alleged. For more information contact Fort Lauderdale Criminal Lawyer William Moore.