I got into a fight in Kansas. What am I going to be charged with?

The facts and circumstances surrounding your fight will determine which crime you are charged with under Kansas law.  Some of the factors that determine your charges include the person with whom you were fighting, the account of the fight given by the other party and witnesses, the severity of any injuries that occurred, and the reasons underlying or the situation that led up to the fight.

Many fights result in assault charges under Kansas law.  Under Kansas simple assault laws, you are guilty if you intentionally put someone in reasonable fear of immediate bodily harm.  As a result, you can be charged with simple assault in Kansas even if you never touched the other party with whom you were fighting. 

In some circumstances, you may be charged with aggravated assault, even if you had no physical contact with the other party.  Aggravated assault is defined as putting another person in reasonable fear of immediate bodily harm by using a deadly weapon, being disguised to hide your identify, and/or having the intent to commit a felony. 

Likewise, if your fight involved physical contact, you could be charged with either battery or aggravated battery.  Battery occurs when you intentionally or recklessly cause bodily harm to someone, or intentionally cause physical contact with another in a rude, insulting, or angry manner.  You can be charged with aggravated battery if you intentionally or recklessly cause bodily harm to someone with a deadly weapon, and/or resulting in great bodily harm or disfigurement, or in a rude and insulting manner with a deadly weapon that could cause great bodily harm or disfigurement. 

If you have been or are going to be charged with assault and/or battery due to a fight in the state of Kansas, you should immediately contact a criminal defense attorney for assistance.