Those who strike another individual may be charged with assault and battery. People convicted of this crime can be sentenced to jail time and other serious punishments. This is especially true when older individuals are victimized. As people grow older they can be injured more easily and do not recover as well. This causes them to be viewed as especially vulnerable under the law. For that reason, the punishments for those who are convicted of assaulting people over the age of 65 may be more serious.
Aggravated assaults and batteries on people over the age of 65 shall be penalized by a minimum jail sentence of three years, a fine of $10,000, restitution, and up to 500 hours of community service. Assault and battery on people over 65 has also reclassified. Aggravated batteries are first-degree felonies instead of second-degree. Aggravated assaults are moved to second-degree felonies. Battery has changed from a first-degree misdemeanor to a third-degree felony, and assault has moved from a second-degree misdemeanor to a first-degree misdemeanor.
Being convicted of these crimes can clearly result in very severe penalties that can have a major effect on people’s lives. However, people may have defenses available to them, or there may be mitigating circumstances that could ease the punishments imposed upon conviction. Everyone is innocent until proven guilty, though, which can only occur at the conclusion of the criminal justice process.
Many people are charged with crimes in Florida each year for a variety of crimes, including assault and battery. These are serious charges, which is why having a strong defense is important. Fortunately, experienced criminal defense attorneys stand ready to help craft these defenses.