Assault and Battery Defense at the Law Office of Maggie Jo Hilliard, P.A.
If you have been charged with assault or battery, you may face serious consequences, including jail or prison time, fines, probation, loss of employment or loss of a professional license. I understand the risks at stake, and I know the effective methods of defending you to the prosecution, the court and a jury. Call me BEFORE talking with prosecutors, police, or investigators. Never contact the alleged victim in your case before talking to me about the potential for additional charges based upon a violation of a "no-contact order." This could also lead to charges of witness tampering, a felony.
You are at risk of incriminating yourself or making irreversible mistakes if you discuss an incident with police, investigators, prosecutors or the alleged victim before speaking with an attorney.
I can provide you with an aggressive defense against criminal charges including felony assault, domestic assault, domestic battery, aggravated assault, aggravated battery, felony battery, assault with a deadly weapon, armed robbery, weapons charges, and misdemeanor assault or battery.
The Definitions:
Assault is defined as an intentional, unlawful threat by word or act to do violence to the person of another, coupled with an apparent ability to do so, and doing some act which creates a well-founded fear in such other person that such violence is imminent. The "simple" assault is a misdemeanor. Aggravated Assault is a felony defined as an assault with additional elements; 1) a deadly weapon without intent to kill or 2) with an intent to commit a felony.
Battery occurs when a person 1) actually and intentionally touches or strikes another person against the will of the other; or 2) intentionally causes bodily harm to another person. "Simple" battery is a misdemeanor, but if a person has one prior conviction for battery, aggravated battery, or felony battery and then commits any second or subsequent battery it is a felony.
Battery can occur in many situations whereby penalties or degree may alter depending upon the alleged victim's status (i.e. law enforcement officer, family member or domestic partner).
For more information on these statutes, click here Florida Statutes.
Your Defense:
Defending a charge of assault or battery requires detailed factual review. Questions that may be raised:
Was the act intentional?
Was the violence imminent?
Is your prior charge a conviction?
Maggie Jo Hilliard, Esq. has successfully defended assault and battery actions, receiving plea bargains and jury verdicts in favor of her clients.
As with any criminal defense case, time is of the essence. It is common for state plea offers to be open only on a limited basis. Call the Law Office of Maggie Jo Hilliard, P.A. today for more information and to schedule a detailed factual review and consultation.