Assault & Battery Attorney
Myrtle Beach, SC

Facing assault and battery charges in SC?

Not only can an assault and battery charge have severe consequences, including fines and jail time, the criminal justice system can be overwhelming and confusing, and navigating it alone can have serious consequences.

In South Carolina, the fines, penalties, and jail time for an assault and battery conviction depend on several factors, including whether the victim suffered actual damage and the severity of the victim’s injuries. For these reasons it’s critical to immediately hire a competent assault and battery attorney in Myrtle Beach, SC to represent you.

In South Carolina, assault and battery can be charged in three different degrees, as well as a separate charge for Assault and Battery of a High and Aggravated Nature (ABHAN), depending on the circumstances of the crime. The degrees of assault and battery are based on the severity of the offense and the level of harm caused to the victim.

• Third Degree Assault & Battery: 3rd degree assault and battery is the least severe form of this charge in South Carolina. It is defined as a threat, attempt, or actual physical injury to another person. Injuries to a victim covered under this charge include minor injuries, such as bruises, cuts, scrapes, and burns that do not require extensive medical care. 3rd degree assault and battery is a high misdemeanor offense in South Carolina, and if convicted, you may face up to 30 days in jail.
• Second Degree Assault and Battery: 2nd degree assault and battery is defined as injury to another or the threat of injury to another person. Moderate bodily injury or the possibility of moderate bodily injury is required. Injuries to a victim covered under this charge include loss of consciousness, temporary disfigurement, or loss of a bodily organ, dislocation, fracture, or the necessary use of anesthesia during medical treatment. 2nd degree assault and battery is a misdemeanor offense, and if convicted, you may face up to 3 years in jail.
• First Degree Assault and Battery: 1st degree assault and battery is the most severe degree of assault and battery charges in South Carolina. It is defined as touching someone’s private parts without consent and with lewd intent; threatening, attempting to injure, or actually injuring someone during the commission of a burglary, robbery, kidnapping, or theft; or threatening or attempting to injure someone but no actual injury results. If the attack did not occur during the commission of another crime, and actual great bodily injury occurred, the charge would be for ABHAN (see below). The injury or potential injury in this case must rise to the level of great bodily injury. Examples of great bodily injury include serious, permanent disfigurement, protracted loss or impairment of the function of a bodily member or organ. 1st degree assault and battery is a felony offense, and if convicted, you may face up to 10 years in jail.
• Assault and Battery of a High and Aggravated Nature (ABHAN): Assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature is the most severe form of assault and battery in South Carolina. It occurs when someone causes great bodily injury to another person or the attack was likely to cause great bodily injury or death to another person if no actual injury occurred. Assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature is a felony offense, and if convicted, you may face up to 20 years in prison.

As you can see, the potential fines, penalties and jail time for assault and battery charges in SC can be severe. The attorneys at O’NeilLaw Firm can help!