Walk It Through: The Fight Outside The Bar
A shove, a punch, a crowd blocking the street, and the charges each one carries.
Outside a bar at closing, a man shoves another and threatens to hit him.
Two things a person in this spot might do. Picking one shows what the law says about it.
One fight between strangers. A fight involving a police officer, a domestic partner, a third simple assault and a civil suit for the injury are not worked through here.
A practice walkthrough, not a prediction of how any real one will go. Legal information, not legal advice.
Words this turns on
Terms with a legal meaning that is narrower than the everyday one. Each links to the definition and the authority behind it.
- Class 1 misdemeanorThe more serious of the two misdemeanor classes, with a maximum of one year in a county jail or a $2,000 fine, or both.
- Class 2 misdemeanorThe lesser misdemeanor class, with a maximum of thirty days in a county jail or a $500 fine, or both.
- Disorderly conductFighting, unreasonable noise, disturbing a lawful meeting or blocking traffic, done to cause serious public inconvenience, annoyance or alarm. A Class 2 misdemeanor.
- Aggravated assaultSerious bodily injury with extreme indifference, injury with a dangerous weapon, menacing with a deadly weapon, or impeding breathing by pressure on the throat or neck. A Class 3 felony.
- Class 6 felonyThe least serious felony class: a maximum of two years in a state correctional facility or a fine of $4,000, or both.
- Credible threatA threat made with the intent to place someone in reasonable fear of death or great bodily injury, which is stalking on its own.
- Simple assaultAttempting or recklessly causing bodily injury, or putting someone in fear of imminent harm by physical menace or a credible threat. A Class 1 misdemeanor, and a felony on a third within ten years.