Florida Criminal Attorney Blog
A Spring Hill, Florida man is facing battery charges after allegedly attacking his girlfriend and another man and his girlfriend after their attempts to mediate the brawl.
According to a Hernando County Sheriff’s Office report, the 30-year-old Spring Hill man is charged with battery and domestic battery following the fight between the man and his girlfriend Saturday night.
The Hernando Today reports that the man supposedly smashed his girlfriends head into the front door of the bar and punched her in the face in the midst of an argument.
Another bar patron and his girlfriend witnessed the fight and stepped outside to stop the Spring Hill man.
According to the report, the Spring Hill man got inside his vehicle and drove toward the other man. He allegedly lunged out of his car, slapped the bar patron’s girlfriend across the face and scratched the man’s forehead.
The bar patron evidently tackled his assailant to the ground in a headlock.
Once deputies arrived at the scene, they noted the Spring Hill man was very intoxicated. He was transported to the Hernando County Jail where he is being held on a no bond status for domestic battery and $1,000 for two separate battery counts.
Florida criminal law has designed a series of crimes under the general category of Domestic Violence. In this case, domestic battery is the unlawful touching of another and the element of the crime under Florida Domestic Violence criminal laws. In many cases, domestic battery results in a felony charge with severe penalties including extended jail time, restitution, fines, anger management courses, parole and probation.
The difference between a misdemeanor battery charge and a felony battery charge is if there was serious bodily harm. A battery is a misdemeanor if there is unlawful touching, but no serious harm. A battery can become a felony if there is serious bodily injury or permanent disfigurement. Florida felony battery has both statutory and case law definitions that describe the nature and extent of injuries suffered by a battery, but they vary with every situation. Ultimately, a jury has the supreme decision on whether a battery conviction is a felony or misdemeanor.
If you or someone you know has been charged with battery of any kind in the state of Florida, contact the Florida Criminal Attorneys at the Law Office of Whittel & Melton, LLC online or call 1-866-608-5LAW (5529) to ensure that your legal rights go uncompromised.