Georgia Criminal Law Aggravated Battery Attorney

Georgia Criminal Law – Aggravated Battery

The Offense

A person commits the offense of aggravated battery when he or she maliciously causes bodily harm to another by depriving him/her of a member of his/her body, by rendering a member of his/her body useless, or by disfiguring his/her body or a member thereof. O.C.G.A. § 16-5-24.

 Intent

In order to sustain a conviction for aggravated battery, the State will have to prove the defendant acted with a particular mental state. Here, the mental state is “malice.” A person acts maliciously within the meaning of the aggravated-battery statute when he/she acts intentionally and without justification or serious provocation.  Hillsman v. State, 341 Ga.App. 543 (2017). The State is not required to show he/she intended the specific results of his/her conduct; rather, state is required to prove only that defendant acted maliciously when he engaged in that conduct. Bizzard v. State, 312 Ga.App. 185 (2011).  

Injury

What separates aggravated battery from the lesser-included offense of battery is the degree of injury suffered by the victim. Georgia courts have held the following injuries sufficient to constitute an aggravated battery conviction:

  • Nerve Damage
  • Memory Loss
  • Loss of Normal Brain Functioning
  • Vision Loss
  • Broken Finger, Nose, Teeth, Ears, and/or Wrist
  • Severe Bruising

The injuries do not need to be permanent (may be temporary) but must be greater than a superficial wound.

Punishment

Aggravated battery is a felony offense. As a result, the minimum punishment is one-year imprisonment.  The sentencing judge, however, has the discretion to impose a higher sentence depending on many factors, but especially the person’s criminal history and the existence of aggravating circumstances. Furthermore, Georgia law creates different degrees of punishment for an aggravated battery conviction if the victim falls into a certain classification.

  • Aggravated Battery – 1 to 20 Years Imprisonment
  • Aggravated Battery Upon a Public Safety Officer (While Engaged in Their Official Duties) – 10 to 20 Years Imprisonment and $2,000 Fine
    • If Defendant is 17 Years Old, Minimum is 3 Years
  • Aggravated Battery Against Person Who is 65 or Older – 5 to 20 Years Imprisonment
  • Aggravated Battery While in a Public Transit Vehicle or Station – 5 to 20 Years Imprisonment
  • Aggravated Battery Against a Student or Teacher (or Other School Personnel) Within a School Safety Zone – 5 to 20 Years Imprisonment
  • Aggravated Battery Against a Family Member – 3 to 20 Years Imprisonment

Contact Us

If you or a loved one is facing criminal prosecution, please contact our office today at 404-581-0999 for a free consultation. Our firm has specialized knowledge and experience in handling criminal cases in various jurisdictions across Georgia.