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