There’s a prevalent misconception in Florida about people who commit violent crimes. We often picture them as the lowest of the low in society: people with no job or lifelong criminals, but that’s not always the reality. If we’re honest with ourselves, we’ve all had times where we’ve lost it and done things we later regret.
A Florida corrections officer is facing battery charges after an apparent road rage incident June 8. According to a report issued by the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, the officer exited his car, went up to the victim’s vehicle and punched the driver in the face. The wife of the victim saw what happened and claimed that a police officer was behind the two vehicles during the incident. Though he said his chin was hurting, the man who was assaulted showed no visible injuries and refused treatment.
The corrections officer was taken to jail and booked on battery charges.
A case like this one underlines the important fact that these types of crimes can happen to even the best of us. We tend to jump to conclusions when we hear of an assault case, but sometimes there are extenuating circumstances and stories can change as new evidence comes to light.
It’s the job of a Florida attorney to unravel the story and get down to the heart of what happened. Doing so often reveals enlightening facts. Did the victim make up or exaggerate the incident? Was the accused provoked in a way that required a physical defense?
It’s important to know that if you’ve been charged with a violent crime like battery, aggravated assault or domestic violence, you do have rights. An attorney can explain those rights to you and may be able to help you fight the charges.
Source: jacksonville.com, “Corrections officer arrested in Orange Park road-rage assault,” June 9, 2014
