What is a Battery Charge?
Battery basically means touching another person against their will. It is a misdemeanor, unless it is accompanied by an enhancement. According to Florida Statutes section 784.03 (1)(a):
The offense of battery occurs when a person:
Actually and intentionally touches or strikes another person against the will of the other; or
Intentionally causes bodily harm to another person.
What are the Defenses to a Battery Charge?
Defenses to a battery charge can typically include self-defense or a claim that the alleged victim was a voluntary combatant in the situation, which can either point towards self-defense or to the lesser charge of “affray” (which is basically another misdemeanor that outlaws two people voluntarily brawling in public).
What are Battery Charge Enhancements?
There are certain things the state can allege that may enhance the severity of punishment for a battery charge, including whether the accused wielded a weapon or firearm. It is also an “enhanceable offense,” meaning that a person is subjected to more jeopardy for a second (or subsequent) conviction as compared to the first, and so on.
In any event, The Weisman Law Firm handles battery charges for people accused of crimes. The founders had the sense to establish the constitutional principles that we’re all presumed innocent until proven guilty, the burden is on the state to prove a person’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, and that any person accused of a crime is guaranteed effective representation. If you, a friend, or a loved one has been accused of a crime like this, feel free to contact The Weisman Law Firm for a free, confidential consultation.