Protecting You As A Georgia Assault And Battery Attorney
Last updated on November 20, 2025
If you or a loved one has been charged with an assault or battery offense, the stakes are incredibly high.
At Kyle H. Jarzmik Law, I provide the dedicated criminal defense representation you need. I am a former prosecutor who knows how to uphold your constitutional rights against Georgia’s criminal justice system. Don’t face these allegations alone; secure an experienced Atlanta criminal defense lawyer today.
The Basics Of Georgia’s Assault And Battery Laws
In our state, the laws regarding assault and battery are O.C.G.A. Title 16, Chapter 5, Article 2. Many people confuse the terms assault and battery, but these are two distinct crimes:
- Assault: Placing another person in fear of imminent injury. It can also mean an attempted act of violence, even with no physical contact.
- Battery: Actual physical contact or physical harm.
These charges can fall into either misdemeanor or felony classifications. The class depends heavily on factors such as the alleged victim’s identity, the accused’s intent, the degree of harm caused and prior criminal history. As my clients’ criminal defense lawyer, I can often get felony charges reduced to misdemeanors.
What Should I Know About Georgia Assault Charges?
Simple assault involves either:
- An attempt to commit a violent injury
- An action that makes another person fear for a violent injury
Simple assault is usually a misdemeanor with a sentence of up to one year in jail and a $1,000 fine. However, simple assault against vulnerable individuals such as a pregnant female, a person over 65, or a public transit employee is a misdemeanor of a high and aggravated nature. These carry potential fines of up to $5,000.
Aggravated assault is a felony offense. This involves:
- The specific intent to murder, rape or rob
- Using a deadly weapon or an object meant to cause bodily harm
- An act that causes or could cause strangulation
A conviction for aggravated assault generally results in prison time for one to 20 years.
The Basics Of Georgia Battery Cases
Simple cattery occurs when a person intentionally:
- Makes physical contact of an insulting or provoking nature
- Causes physical harm to another
When someone commits battery against a spouse, the parent of the same child or a cohabitant, the state charges it as family violence battery. The severity of a charge escalates for repeat offenders. For example:
- A second battery conviction against the same victim mandates a minimum ten-day jail sentence.
- A third battery conviction against the same victim is a felony carrying one to five years of imprisonment.
Aggravated battery is the most serious form of battery. It requires malicious intent to cause harm, specifically by:
- Depriving the victim of a member of their body.
- Rendering a member of the victim’s body useless.
- Seriously disfiguring the victim’s body or a member thereof.
Aggravated battery is a felony offense with the potential for prison time of one to 20 years.
Your Defense Starts Now: Schedule A Free Consultation
As a licensed Georgia criminal defense attorney dedicated to serving clients across the state, I am prepared to defend you fiercely. Contact me to build a strategic defense against these complex charges. For a free consultation, please call me toll-free at 770-676-3565 or send me an email.