The basic offense of assault (G.L. c. 265, s. 13A) is the act of either putting another person in fear of being immiently touched in an offensive way or of attempting to cause harm to another person. It could be as minor as a slap that misses, or as serious as shooting a firearm at someone and simply failing to hit them. If contact occurs, either by the hand or the bullet in those two examples, that touching constitutes a battery, and the appropriate charge would then be assault and battery.
Simple assault is a misdameanor, but there are numerous ways that a simple assault can be elevated to a felony by the addition of other elements, including:
- Assault with a Dangerous Weapon (G.L. c. 265, s. 15B)
- Assault on a Person Over 60 Years Old (G.L. c. 265, s. 15B)
- Assault with Intent to Murder (G.L. c. 265, s. 15)
- Assault with Intent to Maim (G.L. c. 265, s. 14; G.L. c. 265, s. 15)
- Assault with Intent to Rob (G.L. c. 265, s. 18)
- Assault with Intent to Rob while Armed (G.L. c. 265, s. 18A)
- Assault in a Dwelling while Armed (G.L. c. 265, s. 18A)
- Assault with Intent to Rape (G.L. 265, s. 24)
- Assault with Intent to Intimidate (G.L. c. 265, s. 29)
- Assault in Violation of a Restraining Order (G.L. c. 265, s. 13A(b))
- Assault on an EMT (G.L. c. 265, s. 13I)
- Assault with a Hypodermic Syringe (G.L. c. 265, s. 15C)
If you or someone you know has been charged with assault, call us immediately to discuss your options and your best defenses.
See: Assault with Dangerous Weapon/60+ (G.L. c. 265, s. 15B); Assault to Murder/Maim (G.L. c. 265, s. 15); Mayhem (G.L. c. 265, s. 14); Assault to Rob (G.L. c. 265, s. 18); Assault in a Dwelling/Armed Assault to Rob (G.L. c. 265, s. 18A); Assault to Rape (G.L. 265, s. 24); Assault to Intimidate (G.L. c. 265, s. 29); Assault in Violation of Restraining Order (G.L. c. 265, s. 13A(b)); Assault on Ambulance Personnnel (G.L. c. 265, s. 13I); Assault with Hypodermic Syringe (G.L. c. 265, s. 15C).