June 17, 2014

A 23-year-old Thousand Oaks man has been arrested on suspicion of battery causing serious bodily injury after a fight outside a bar resulted in life-threatening injuries. According to a news report in the Thousand Oaks Acorn, the incident began inside PJ's Pub and Grill on Avenida de Los Arboles. Officials say the 23-year-old man followed a 32-year-old Los Angeles man to the rear parking lot where they fought. The 32-year-old suffered life-threatening injuries. The Thousand Oaks man was arrested two days later on suspicion of causing serious bodily injury.

Battery is defined as the willful and unlawful use of force on someone else. Battery is commonly associated with physical fights, but you can face battery charges in Ventura even if you don't cause the alleged victim any pain or injury. A conviction can occur anytime someone touches another person in an offensive way. If, however, the incident does result in serious injuries, the charges could increase dramatically.

While assault is the attempt to use force or violence, battery is the actual use of force. Therefore, you can face assault charges in Ventura for threatening violence and battery charges for actually making physical contact. It is battery to push someone, throw an object at another or to even spit on someone in the heat of the moment.

Simple battery is a misdemeanor that is punishable by six months in jail and up to $2,000 in fines. Battery causing serious bodily injury is a wobbler, which means that it can result in misdemeanor or felony charges. Misdemeanor battery causing serious bodily injury is punishable by up to one year in county jail. Felony battery causing serious bodily injury can result in two, three, or even four years in prison.

If you are facing battery charges, it is important that you do everything you can to assert your innocence. You can argue that you used force to defend yourself and that you used no more force than reasonably necessary. You can also argue that you did not act willfully and that the injuries resulted from a misunderstanding or accident. It is important to explore every possible defense because the consequences of being convicted can have long-lasting social, professional, and financial consequences. An experienced Ventura assault and battery defense lawyer can help ensure that your rights are protected every step of the way.