Penalties for Battery With Disfigurement in New Port Richey

Battery is a serious crime in Florida, and you may face this charge after carrying out relatively minimal acts of violence. However, the penalties for battery in New Port Richey can become much more severe if you disfigure an alleged victim. How does disfigurement affect your sentence in this situation? Can a Pasco County assault & battery lawyer help you push back against needlessly excessive penalties?

Disfigurement Could Lead to Aggravated Battery Charges in Florida 

If a victim becomes disfigured as a result of a physical altercation, the aggressor could face charges of aggravated battery. This is a much more serious offense compared to “simple battery” in Florida, and it is a second-degree felony.

Under Florida Statute 784.045, you may be charged with aggravated battery if you “intentionally and knowingly” cause permanent disfigurement to an alleged victim. You might also face this charge if you cause “great bodily harm” or “permanent disability.” Finally, you could face aggravated battery charges if you use a deadly weapon, regardless of the nature or severity of the alleged victim’s injuries.

Aggravated battery in Florida can lead to a prison sentence of up to 15 years. You might also face a fine of up to $10,000. The minimum sentence for this offense is usually 21 months in prison.

A Recent Example of Battery With Disfigurement 

A recent incident in Florida shows how easy it can be to cause disfigurement during a battery. In March of 2025, a Florida woman was accused of assaulting a man with a Pringles can during an altercation at a 7-Eleven. Police arrived to find the victim with what they described as a “significant cut” near his eye. First responders treated the man as he bled profusely.

Later reports specifically used the word “disfigurement” to describe this injury, and some sources described this as a “permanent disfigurement.” This victim may have permanent scarring across his face as a result of the incident, and this could explain why the woman is now facing aggravated battery charges.

The use of a Pringles can (which the police secured as evidence) illustrates how easy it can be to cause a disfiguring injury. Even if you decide to assault someone with a random, seemingly innocuous object, you could cause a disfiguring injury and subsequently face much more serious penalties.

Defense Strategies for Aggravated Assault

 The most appropriate defense strategy depends on your unique circumstances. However, many defendants argue self-defense in this situation. Others might claim that the battery was completely unintentional.

Can a Defense Lawyer in New Port Richey Help Me? 

If you have been accused of battery in New Port Richey, a criminal defense attorney may be able to help. Effective legal assistance may be particularly crucial if the alleged victim claims you disfigured them, as this could trigger heightened penalties. Schedule a consultation with Athanaselos & Associates, P.A. – and get started with a defense strategy today.

Sources: 

leg.state.fl.us/STATUTES/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0700-0799/0784/Sections/0784.045.html

leg.state.fl.us/STATUTES/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0700-0799/0784/Sections/0784.045.html