Largo Aggravated Battery Lawyer
Aggravated battery is a serious crime in Florida, with defendants facing the prospect of years behind bars for a felony conviction. If you were accused of aggravated battery, please call Reep Coleman & Stubbendorff. Our law firm has experience defending men and women accused of violent crimes. We can review the circumstances of your arrest and determine the best path forward. Defendants need an experienced legal advocate with the knowledge to find gaps in the state’s evidence and use the law to your advantage. Call to speak with a Largo aggravated battery lawyer at our firm today.
Aggravated Battery Penalties & Defenses
Florida defines aggravated battery as striking or touching a person intentionally and without their consent, and you:
- Used a deadly weapon, like a gun; or
- Committed battery against a pregnant woman and knew she was pregnant; or
- Intentionally and knowingly caused great bodily harm, permanent disfigurement, or permanent disability.
This is a second-degree felony, which means someone convicted can face up to 15 years in prison and a $10,000 fine. These penalties are for first-time offenders. Someone with previous felony convictions could do even more time for committing aggravated battery.
A convicted felon will also lose important civil rights, including gun rights. Florida will also keep you from voting while you serve out your sentence.
Contact a criminal defense lawyer as soon as possible to review what defenses you can raise. We might argue:
- Consent—You had permission to touch the defendant.
- Accident—It is not a crime to accidentally touch someone without criminal intent. We might argue you were merely careless when you collided with them.
- Failure to prove aggravating factors—You might not have used a deadly weapon or caused serious bodily harm, in which case your charges might be reduced to simple battery.
- Mistaken identity—Someone else might have committed the battery, not you.
- Self-defense—People in Florida have the right to use force to defend themselves from attack.
- Defense of someone else—A person can also use force to defend someone else from attack.
The police also might have violated your constitutional rights when investigating the crime. For example, they could have searched your home without consent or a search warrant. They could have seized a weapon without a warrant or probable cause. We can ask a judge to dismiss these charges or throw out evidence.
Speak with a Largo Aggravated Battery Attorney
The worst mistake a criminal defendant can make is assuming the state will take things easy on them because they have no criminal history. Nothing could be further from the truth. Anyone facing criminal charges should immediately call our office. Some defendants end up behind bars for years, even if this is their first brush with the law. You should do everything possible to fight the charges and win the case.
In a consultation, we can discuss your charges and the circumstances surrounding your arrest. A Largo aggravated battery lawyer is ready to meet in a confidential setting.
