Virginia Beach Battery Attorney

If you or someone you love has recently been accused of battery in the state of Virginia, it is important to understand the seriousness of these allegations. As a criminal misdemeanor or felony offense, a battery conviction can lead to extensive legal fees and a lengthy jail sentence—not to mention numerous ramifications to your personal life. However, with help from a skilled Virginia Beach battery attorney, you may be able to reduce or even eliminate the charges against you.

Under Virginia state law, any type of contact that occurs without consent, and is deemed offensive or harmful can be classified as a simple battery. As a result, a variety of acts can be grounds for battery charges—even if the victim was not injured (for example, taking another person’s property without his or her consent). 

Although assault charges are often filed in addition to battery, the two are separate offenses. A person who threatens another person, but does not actually carry it out, may be charged with assault. To be charged with battery, however, you must cause physical harm to an individual—this includes inappropriate sexual contact (sexual battery) and domestic violence.

The penalties for committing battery vary according to the nature of the act in question. If the victim was a child, woman, or police officer, for example, you may face harsher punishment. Additionally, if a weapon was involved during the battery, you may be charged with aggravated battery, which is a more serious felony offense.

If you are convicted of battery, you may spend up to a year behind bars—and the consequences of the conviction will not end there. Like any other crime, a battery conviction will be a permanent addition to your criminal record, which means anyone who checks your background will see that you were found guilty of a violent crime. As you may guess, a blemished criminal record can often pose difficulties when you are trying to find employment and housing in the future. In many cases, you may even be ineligible for jobs in particular fields (such as teaching or practicing law).

Fortunately, with help from a skilled battery attorney, many individuals accused of battery can avoid conviction. Indeed, there are numerous defense strategies that can be used to fight battery charges—if you were defending yourself, your property, or another individual, for instance, the charges against you may be dropped.

As a lifetime member of the National Association of Criminal Defense, attorney Michael C. Tillotson can help determine the best tactics for your defense. Aggressively defending clients like you for more than a decade, Mr. Tillotson has the extensive trial experience and legal knowledge that are required to fight your battery charges. Don’t let one mistake affect the rest of your life. Contact Michael C. Tillotson today for a free, no-obligation consultation on your case.