Gainesville Assault and Battery Lawyer
Depending on the nature and severity of the alleged offense, you could face up to five years in prison for an assault and battery conviction.
If you are facing these charges, experienced legal representation from a Gainesville assault and battery attorney can have a huge impact on the outcome of your case. Meldon Law will use our experience and knowledge of the law, the courts, and the prosecution to provide you with a strong defense.
To learn more about how our team conducts investigations to create strong cases for our clients, call (352) 373-8000.
We Won’t Back Down When It Comes to Fighting Your Case
It can feel like a nightmare when the police put handcuffs on and tell you that you’re under arrest for assault and battery. This is a charge that district attorneys in Gainesville take very seriously. The potential penalties include loss of freedom, thousands in fines, and harm to your reputation. At times like these, having an attorney who has fought and won assault and battery cases in Gainesville can make a difference in the outcome of your case.
But it’s not just our experience that makes us criminal defense attorneys, it’s also our belief that everyone deserves quality legal defense. Criminal defense is not just a job or an area of practice for us, and you are more than just a case number. We feel like we have a calling to do this work, and we’re committed to your well-being as a client.
That’s why we live by the Meldon motto “We won’t back down” when we fight for our clients. We fight your case like we’re fighting for one of our own. We are here to give you the best possible chance to maintain your freedom and get back to your life the way it was before your arrest. We want to help you end the nightmare.
Consequences You May Face For Assault and Battery Convictions in Gainesville
The terms assault and battery are often misunderstood, and the two are often confused for each other. The difference is important. Assault is a crime that involves threatening another person, while the crime of battery involves inflicting harm on another person (e.g., punching, pushing, or other physical contact designed to harm).
Assault and battery charges range from misdemeanors to third-degree felonies, and the penalties you will face will depend on the severity of the offense. Our Gainesville assault and battery attorneys have successfully defended against many types of charges, including:
- Simple assault: A charge for simple assault involves a threat that causes someone else to fear bodily harm. The penalties for simple assault include six days in jail and a maximum fine of $500. A simple assault charge that involves the threat of bodily harm to law enforcement officers and other public servants is considered a felony, which will come with harsher sentences.
- Aggravated assault: Simple assault can be upgraded to aggravated assault when the offense involves the use of a weapon or an extremely serious threat. Aggravated assault is a third-degree felony.
- Simple battery: The offense of simple battery involves violent physical contact that results in bodily injury to the victim. The offense is a misdemeanor unless a law enforcement officer or other public servant was harmed as a result.
- Aggravated battery: Aggravated battery involves physical violence that is more severe and is considered a felony. The state may file this charge in cases where the victim sustained severe injuries.
If you are facing charges for any of the above crimes, a Gainesville assault and battery attorney can determine the best way to proceed with your defense.
Extenuating Factors That Affect Sentencing
Although assault and/or battery are both serious charges in Florida, the state takes threats and violence to people involved in public service very seriously. This means higher potential sentences if the state alleges you committed assault and battery against them while they were on duty. Examples of public employees who may receive extra protection under Florida law include, but are not limited to, the following:
- First responders (e.g., police, firemen)
- Correctional officers
- Healthcare workers and providers (e.g., doctors, nurses, orderlies)
- School teachers
Florida law also allows prosecutors to seek enhanced penalties in cases where the assault and battery charge is connected to domestic violence. This means if you are charged and convicted with assault and battery of someone such as a former domestic partner or member of your household (e.g., elderly relative or minor child), the penalties may be more severe than in an assault and battery case involving strangers.
Our Attorneys Know the Right Defense for Your Assault and Battery Case
The defense used in your assault and battery case will largely depend on the underlying facts. An attorney will consider who the victim was, the aggressor in the situation, whether you were using self-defense, as well as the nature of the dispute.
Self-defense is one possible strategy, as is defending another person or certain property. You may also be able to show that the physical contact was accidental, which can also be a valid defense. In other cases, we may be able to demonstrate that the assault occurred because the victim used hate speech that provoked a physical response.
Our Assault and Battery Lawyers Challenge Your Charges
In our experience, assault and battery cases do not happen in a vacuum. In many assault and battery cases, there may be underlying circumstances that lead up to the assault and may mitigate your level of responsibility.
An assault and battery lawyer from our firm will look at the entirety of the state’s case and the circumstances of the incident. We’ll interview witnesses and even look for other evidence (e.g., video footage) that may shed light on the incident or cast doubt on the allegations made against you. We may be able to use this kind of evidence to negotiate for a reduction in charges that allows you to remain free.
What we’re not going to do is allow the state to steamroll you and convict you without a fight. From the minute you hire us, our assault and battery lawyers will use the full extent of their experience, skill, and legal resources to give you the legal defense you deserve because your freedom and reputation are on the line. We’ll do our best to help you preserve them both.
Time is Critical in Gainesville Assault and Battery Cases
If you’ve been charged with assault and battery in Gainesville, time is of the essence. The prosecutor and police have been building their case against you every day since you were charged. Every day you delay seeking counsel, their case gets stronger, and your situation gets more serious. The earlier our assault and battery attorneys get involved in cases, the easier it is to build a strong case.
Don’t delay or assume your situation is hopeless. Meldon Law is committed to serving this community, and we would be honored to serve you in this difficult time. The sooner you call us, the sooner we can begin formulating a strategy to fight, and win, your case.
Consult with a Gainesville Assault and Battery Attorney Today
Regardless of the type of charges you are facing, a Gainesville assault and battery attorney from Meldon Law is here to give you the best chance of a successful outcome. Call us today at (352) 373-8000 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation so we can get started on your case.
