4 Criminal Charges You Can Confront If You Get Involved In a Bar Fight
Imagine you’re at a bar and the long-awaited game is on the big screen. Enthusiastic fans who have had a couple of drinks start to get a little more rowdy with each inning or quarter. In these situations, bar fights usually happen unexpectedly as tensions grow between friends or strangers. Bar fights may allow the venting of passionate emotions, but quickly become more trouble than they’re worth as they result in criminal charges and convictions along with painful injuries and property damage.
A trusted Boca Raton criminal defense attorney describes four of the criminal charges you may find yourself facing if you become involved in a bar fight.
Disorderly Intoxication
This happens when someone who is under the influence of alcohol becomes intoxicated to the point of becoming a threat or even a danger to the people around them. If you are engaging in this kind of behavior, the management of the bar or a law enforcement officer have the right to ask you to leave the situation before things get worse. The bartender may also exercise discretion about whether to serve you additional alcoholic beverages. If disorderly intoxication results in a situation where someone gets injured, you may also face a second-degree misdemeanor charge.
Disorderly Conduct
Is defined by the Florida state statues as a “breach of the peace.” Some people don’t like how open-ended this term can be, but essentially it helps create a sense of public decency. If you’re participating in a bar fight in public, you may be charged with disorderly conduct because you are disturbing the peace. Charges of disorderly conduct start at a second-degree misdemeanor and can result in substantial fines or jail time. You’ll want to contact your Boca Raton criminal defense lawyer immediately.
Aggravated Battery
This means that a person had the intent of causing serious bodily harm to another person while they were engaged in the bar fight. This charge can be amplified if a weapon was involved, which can range from a pocketknife to beer bottle or even a firearm. When weapons are involved with aggravated battery, you may face a second-degree felony charge.
Manslaughter
It refers to loss of life that happens under specific circumstances. It can be categorized as voluntary or involuntary. When voluntary manslaughter is committed, it means that the person intentionally committed murder during a provocation such as a bar fight. Involuntary manslaughter is the result of the heat of an emotional moment and means an immediate intent to end a person’s life. Both types of manslaughter can and do occur in extreme bar fights, and are likely to result in prison time and other serious consequences. For the best outcome, it’s imperative to contact your Boca Raton attorney for assault charges right away.
Hire a Knowledgeable Criminal Defense Attorney In Boca Raton
If you or someone you love has been involved in a bar fight and is facing criminal charges, Criminal Defense Clinics is ready to provide experienced legal advice to promote the best possible outcome. Our attorneys will investigate the details and give professional representation against the criminal charges you may be facing. We are fluent in English, Spanish, and Portuguese. Contact our Boca Raton office today to schedule your free consultation!
Criminal Defense Clinics
Phone: 561-621-0020
Fax: 561-375-2214
Website: www.www.yourdefenseteam.com
Boca Raton Location
4800 N. Federal Hwy, Suite 205B,
Boca Raton, FL 33431