Orlando Assault Lawyers

Fighting Against Charges of Assault & Battery in the Greater Orlando Area

An assault charge can turn your life upside down, threatening your job, reputation, and freedom. With so much on the line, you need a defense team you can trust to not simply handle your case. But to truly care about its outcome and, most importantly, to truly care about you. At Fighter Law, you’ll get just that. We fight because we care. 

Our team is led by Board Certified assault attorneys in Orlando, a distinction awarded to only a small percentage of Florida lawyers by The Florida Bar. That credential reflects years spent in Central Florida courtrooms, building the kind of case knowledge and courtroom instinct that can't be learned any other way. 

To learn more about us and how we can help you, reach out at (407) 574-7576 or connect with us online. Initial consultations are free and can be conducted virtually for your convenience.

Understanding Assault & Battery Charges & Penalties in Florida

Under Florida Law, there is a difference between assault and battery. They are two separate and distinct crimes, and you can be charged with either or both. An assault is when you threaten to do violence to someone, and that threat puts that person in fear.  A battery is simply touching someone against his or her will.

You do not have to actually hurt someone to be convicted of battery.  An example of the difference is, say, you sneak up on someone and slap them in the back of the head. That’s a battery, whether you hurt them or not. However, it’s not an assault if they didn’t see you coming and were not afraid of getting hit.

Without any aggravators, assault and battery are misdemeanor offenses. With aggravators, they can each easily become felonies.

Below are more details about these offenses and their penalties:

• Simple Assault –  A second-degree misdemeanor, punishable by up to 60 days in jail, six months of probation, and a $500 fine.
• Aggravated Assault – A third-degree felony, applied when the assault involves a deadly weapon or intent to commit another crime. Penalties can reach five years in prison or probation and a $5,000 fine.
• Aggravated Assault with a Firearm – Also a third-degree felony but treated with particular seriousness by prosecutors and juries alike.
• Battery – Involves actually touching or striking someone against their will. It's a first-degree misdemeanor on its own, punishable by up to a year in jail, but it can be elevated to a felony depending on the severity of injury or the circumstances involved.

Even a misdemeanor conviction can follow you for years, affecting job opportunities and even your ability to participate in your children's school activities. Nothing about an assault charge should be treated lightly. 

What Can Make an Assault Charge More Serious

Several factors can elevate an assault charge from a misdemeanor to a felony, and even significantly increase the penalties. 

These include:

• Use of a deadly weapon, such as a knife or gun
• Intent to commit an additional crime during the alleged assault
• The relationship between the parties, as an assault can qualify as domestic violence and lead to a restraining order or injunction
• Prior criminal history, which prosecutors and courts may weigh when deciding how to pursue a case

Understanding which of these factors apply to your case early on is critical. They can shape both the charges you're facing and the defense strategy that makes the most sense.