If you have been accused of Domestic Battery or Domestic Violence, please call me for a free consultation. I have practiced criminal defense my entire career, teach criminal law at the IU School of Law, and have personally handled thousands of cases.  Additional information about my office is available on the home page and the in the news page.

IC § 35-42-2-1.3 Domestic Battery

(a) Except as provided in subsections (b) through (f), a person who knowingly or intentionally:

(1) touches a family or household member in a rude, insolent, or angry manner; or

(2) in a rude, insolent, or angry manner places any bodily fluid or waste on a family or household member;

commits domestic battery, a Class A misdemeanor.

(b) The offense under subsection (a)(1) or (a)(2) is a Level 6 felony if one (1) or more of the following apply:

(1) The person who committed the offense has a previous, unrelated conviction:

(A) for a battery offense included in this chapter; or

(B) in any other jurisdiction, including a military court, in which the elements of the crime for which the conviction was entered are substantially similar to the elements of a battery offense included in this chapter.

(2) The person who committed the offense is at least eighteen (18) years of age and committed the offense against a family or household member in the physical presence of a child less than sixteen (16) years of age, knowing that the child was present and might be able to see or hear the offense.

(3) The offense results in moderate bodily injury to a family or household member.

(4) The offense is committed against a family or household member who is less than fourteen (14) years of age and is committed by a person at least eighteen (18) years of age.

(5) The offense is committed against a family or household member of any age who has a mental or physical disability and is committed by a person having the care of the family or household member with the mental or physical disability, whether the care is assumed voluntarily or because of a legal obligation.

(6) The offense is committed against a family or household member who is an endangered adult (as defined in IC 12-10-3-2).

(c) The offense described in subsection (a)(1) or (a)(2) is a Level 5 felony if one (1) or more of the following apply:

(1) The offense results in serious bodily injury to a family or household member.

(2) The offense is committed with a deadly weapon against a family or household member.

(3) The offense results in bodily injury to a pregnant family or household member if the person knew of the pregnancy.

(4) The person has a previous conviction for a battery offense:

(A) included in this chapter against the same family or household member; or

(B) against the same family or household member in any other jurisdiction, including a military court, in which the elements of the crime for which the conviction was entered are substantially similar to the elements of a battery offense included in this chapter.

(5) The offense results in bodily injury to one (1) or more of the following:

(A) A family or household member who is less than fourteen (14) years of age if the offense is committed by a person at least eighteen (18) years of age.

(B) A family or household member who has a mental or physical disability if the offense is committed by an individual having care of the family or household member with the disability, regardless of whether the care is assumed voluntarily or because of a legal obligation.

(C) A family or household member who is an endangered adult (as defined in IC 12-10-3-2).

(d) The offense described in subsection (a)(1) or (a)(2) is a Level 4 felony if it results in serious bodily injury to a family or household member who is an endangered adult (as defined in IC 12-10-3-2).

(e) The offense described in subsection (a)(1) or (a)(2) is a Level 3 felony if it results in serious bodily injury to a family or household member who is less than fourteen (14) years of age if the offense is committed by a person at least eighteen (18) years of age.

(f) The offense described in subsection (a)(1) or (a)(2) is a Level 2 felony if it results in the death of one (1) or more of the following:

(1) A family or household member who is less than fourteen (14) years of age if the offense is committed by a person at least eighteen (18) years of age.

(2) A family or household member who is an endangered adult (as defined in IC 12-10-3-2).

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If you are in need of an Indiana expungement attorney, Indiana criminal defense attorney, or forfeiture attorney, or have questions about the Indiana Expungement Law please call me for a free consultation at 317-695-7700. I have personally defended thousands of cases, teach criminal law at the IU School of Law, am a top rated attorney, and have practiced criminal defense my entire career. Additional information about my office is available on the home page and the in the news page.

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