Quite often in popular media or even news reports, you will hear that someone has been arrested for assault and battery crimes. If you look closely at Wisconsin State legislation and the criminal justice system, you will find that assault is not a prominently used term. Instead, there is battery and attempted battery. No matter how you call it, however, being accused of any violent crime is sure to be detrimental to your future.
Milwaukee Criminal Defense Attorney Christopher J. Cherella can provide reliable defense. Contact our firm today.
Battery and Great Bodily Harm
Any sort of physical damage to a person’s body can be enough to constitute battery. From minor scrapes and bruises to broken bones and even illnesses, if the harm was done intentionally, it is likely to be considered a crime. Should the damage be extensive or debilitate a body part, it is considered to be ‘great bodily harm’ and it will likely be escalated to felony battery charges.
Injuries that could be considered ‘great bodily harm’ include:
- Cuts requiring stitches
- Bone fractures
- Dental damage
- Concussions or head trauma
- Burns of any degree
- Ruptured blood vessels (severe bruising)
Assault and Attempted Battery
Assault or attempted battery involves using either body language or direct communication to threaten, frighten, or intimidate someone. This could be as obvious as shouting at them that you plan to hurt them, or as subtle as raising your fists menacingly. In many cases, just picking up an object that could be viewed as a deadly weapon could constitute attempted battery so long as it is done during the context of a heated argument.
Let Us Shield Your Rights
In a “best” case scenario where you are only accused of giving someone a bruise in a brief scuffle, you can still be charged with battery in Wisconsin and face a Class A misdemeanor conviction. The punishments for such an offense may include 9 to 15 months in jail and a fine in excess of $10,000. If you believe that the penalties are too harsh for what you have allegedly done, or if you do not believe you have done anything wrong at all, our Milwaukee criminal defense attorney from the Law Offices of Christopher J. Cherella can defense you and your rights as an accused individual.
Call (414) 347-9334 today for a free initial consultation.
