Your Guide to Georgia Battery Offenses

If you are facing charges for battery in Georgia, you may be devastated. You may wonder how to get out of these charges and avoid a conviction. However, you should not feel alone. At Conoscienti and Ledbetter, we have helped several clients avoid a battery conviction.

Battery charges come with severe penalties. Depending on the severity of your offense, you may be looking at a lengthy jail sentence. A guilty sentence also means a criminal record, which can affect several opportunities. Our battery lawyers understand the criminal justice system. We can investigate your case and work hard to defend your rights.

What Is Battery in Georgia?

You commit battery when you knowingly cause physical or visible bodily harm to someone. Visible bodily harm is harm that can be seen by others. These include bruises on the victim’s body, swollen lips, or black eyes. However, not all physical injuries are visible. Therefore, you may face battery charges for causing someone internal injuries.

In Georgia, simple battery is a misdemeanor with a sentence of up to a year in jail. A second or subsequent conviction carries a punishment between ten days and twelve months in jail. Your sentence may also include a fine of up to $1000.

Getting convicted for a third or subsequent offense is a felony. It is punishable by imprisonment between one and five years.

You are guilty of Aggravated battery if you:

• Maliciously cause bodily harm to someone

• Deprive them of their body parts

• Render a part of their body useless

• Seriously disfigure their body parts

Aggravated battery carries a punishment between one and twenty years. If committed against a police officer on active duty, it is punishable by imprisonment between ten and twenty years. The court may also impose a fine of at least $2,000.

Aggravated battery is punishable between five and twenty years when committed:

• Against a person of sixty-five years and above

• In a public transit vehicle or station

• Against a student, teacher, or school personnel

Where the offense is committed against past or present spouses or household members, it carries a punishment between three and twenty years. A battery may occur when protecting yourself from domestic violence. An experienced domestic violence attorney can prove that you acted in self-defense.

There are several defenses that may apply depending on your situation. These defenses are discussed in detail below.

Self Defense

This is one of the most common defenses against battery charges. Acting in response to a perceived threat can get your charges reduced or dismissed. However, you must show a reasonable belief that you were at risk of harm. In such cases, our Atlanta Lawyers can challenge the accuracy of the victim’s testimony.

Defense of Others

An honest belief that another person was in danger may suffice. For example, getting into a heated argument with someone who attacks your child. You have the right to use force to defend your child. If the victim used force on your loved one, they may not be able to claim battery.

No Contact

One element of battery is physical contact with the victim. If there was no contact, the court may dismiss the battery charges. However, you may still be guilty of assault.

Consent

The victim may have given you consent to commit the act. But it may still be grounds for battery if your actions exceed the intended amount.

Innocence

You can prove that it is a case of mistaken identity by presenting an alibi. An alibi is evidence that you were somewhere else at the time. Therefore, you could not have committed the offense.

No Intent

Intent is a necessary element in establishing a battery offense. The court may reduce or dismiss the charges if the battery was a mistake. For example, closing a car door without knowing someone’s hand was in the way.