Local Man Tops Clayton County Most Wanted List

A suspect has made it to the top of Clayton County's Most Wanted List after an incident this past weekend.

A woman reported that a man tied her up using duct tape. He allegedly stuck a sock in her mouth and threatened to cut off body parts. He is wanted for aggravated assault, aggravated battery, terroristic threats, and false imprisonment.

As a Georgia Criminal Defense Lawyer, I will outline one of the offenses that the suspect is accused of committing - aggravated battery. In order to understand aggravated battery, a closer look at battery is also necessary.

Aggravated Battery in Georgia

 Battery in Georgia is defined by Georgia Law in O.C.G.A. §16-5-23 as:

A person commits the offense of battery when he or she intentionally causes substantial physical harm or visible bodily harm to another.

Visible bodily harm means bodily harm capable of being perceived by a person other than the victim and may include, but is not limited to, substantially blackened eyes, substantially swollen lips or other facial or body parts, or substantial bruises to body parts.

Battery is classified as a misdemeanor offense. A battery conviction can result in up to 12 months in jail and $1,000 in fines.

Aggravated battery in Georgia is defined by Georgia Law in O.C.G.A. §16-5-24 as:

A person commits the offense of aggravated battery when he or she maliciously causes bodily harm to another by depriving him or her of a member of his or her body, by rendering a member of his or her body useless, or by seriously disfiguring his or her body or a member thereof.

Aggravated battery is classified as a felony. An aggravated battery conviction can result in up to 20 years in prison.

Practice Note

Even though the allegations in this story are heinous - it is important to remember that no one is to be assumed guilty until proven guilty in a court of law.

If you or a loved one has been arrested, contact our offices now.