Criminal Lawyer in Rhode Island

Q. What is the difference between an assault charge and a battery charge?

A. If the victim was touched by the person committing the crime, the charge is battery. If the victim was never physically touched, but only threatened, then the charge is assault. A person can be guilty of assault but not battery, but a person who is guilty of battery is essentially guilty of assault as well. Assault charges rarely stand alone because courts tend to try suspects who are guilty of physical harm.