Tampa Assault & Battery Lawyers

Tampa Defense Attorneys for Florida Assault & Battery Charges

Assault and battery are two separate crimes. Assault is the crime of threatening to cause bodily harm to another person, whereas battery is causing bodily harm. Therefore, when a person commits assault and battery, they have threatened a person and then caused that person physical harm. Like all violent crimes, assault and battery are vigorously prosecuted by Florida law enforcement. If you've been accused or arrested, you must act quickly.

Our firm knows what is on the line with criminal cases of this nature and goes above and beyond in our efforts to ensure that our clients have the reliable legal assistance that they deserve. Regardless of what you have been arrested or criminally charged with, we encourage you to contact our Tampa assault and battery defense firm. We have vast experience and can help you defend your future, freedoms, and legal rights.

 Call (813) 221-4200 to learn more about how we can help you.

Explanation of Assault

Defined under Florida Statutes §784.011 (2011), assault is the intentional, knowing threat of committing violence against another person. Assault may be a verbal or physical threat, but it must be clear the defendant could carry out the threat, so the victim suffered from a reasonable fear of injury or death. Assault is a second-degree misdemeanor, which could mean up to 60 days in jail and a $500 fine. If the defendant had a deadly weapon or intend to commit a felony while committing assault, it will be elevated to aggravated assault under §784.021 and will become a third-degree felony.

Explanation of Battery

Per §784.03, battery is the causing of intentional bodily harm to another person through actions such as striking. This is considered a first-degree misdemeanor, punishable by up to a year in jail and a $1,000 fine, although there are some circumstances where it is considered a felony. A felony charge will stem from having prior battery convictions. Battery, like assault, can also be elevated to an aggravated charge. Aggravated battery is a second-degree felony under §784.045.

Penalties for Aggravated Assault in Florida

Aggravated assault is a third-degree felony. An adult offender may face a state prison sentence of up to 5 years. For a minor tried in juvenile court, penalties will be different. Generally speaking, the juvenile justice system focuses on rehabilitation and counseling first. This means that a minor may face detention in a juvenile correctional facility and may also face counseling, community service, or probation.

Penalties for Aggravated Battery

If a battery offense involved a deadly weapon, and/or it resulted in serious bodily injury, disability, or disfigurement, then the penalties could include up to 15 years in prison and a $10,000 fine. Battery is also punishable as aggravated battery when it can be established that the defendant knew that their victim was pregnant at the time.

Accused of Assault and/or Battery in Tampa?

The time immediately following an arrest is one of the most confusing times in a person’s life. If you have been arrested for assault and battery, you should not hesitate to get the professional help of a defense attorney from our team. At our firm, we pride ourselves on offering support to our clients around the clock. We understand that arrests often do not happen during convenient hours, and we do not limit our clients by limiting their ability to contact us. Instead, if you need an attorney, we are here to help—24/7.

We know the law, and we know how to defend you. That is why you should act quickly and get the help of our Tampa assault and battery defense attorneys. We have handled 7,000+ criminal cases throughout our careers and have consistently been able to help our clients protect their legal rights and freedom.

Contact Thomas & Paulk today to learn how our Tampa assault and battery defense lawyers can help you. We know what it takes to win!