How Broad is Assault and Battery in Oklahoma?

The Scope and Variations of Assault Charges

Hi, this is Oklahoma attorney Stuart Ericson. We’re talking about crimes against the person. We’re kind of in the assault and batteries. Of course, every crime has elements of a crime that need to be proven.

Now, in assault and battery, the state law specifies certain persons whom you can do a specific crime against. So, there can be assault and battery upon a police or a peace officer, and there are definitions for all that. There are assault and battery upon a school employee or a student. There is assault and battery upon a DHS worker. There can be assault and battery upon a corrections employee, somebody who works at a prison. Assault and battery upon an emergency medical care provider. So, assault and battery can be pretty broad.

Of course, in its most basic terms, it’s using force and causing bodily harm to somebody. So, sometimes it depends upon what the weapon is, you know, your fists. Simple assault and battery with some sort of dangerous weapon or with a gun. And then the other side of the coin is who is the alleged victim. Is it a police officer, a corrections officer, a nurse, a DHS employee? All of those can be charged separately, and prosecuting offices do charge them differently depending on the facts.

Reach Out for a Initial Strategy Session

If you have any questions about any of those assault and battery type offenses, reach out to me, Wagoner criminal defense lawyer Stuart Ericson, at WagonerLawyer.com. I offer a low-cost consultation to discuss your situation and provide legal guidance.