Assault and Battery Defense Attorney Massachusetts

Massachusetts assault and battery charges range from a misdemeanor simple assault to felony charges carrying up to 15 years in state prison. We defend individuals facing assault, assault and battery, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, assault and battery on a police officer, and strangulation charges in Essex County and throughout Eastern Massachusetts. More about the Massachusetts assault and battery on a police officer statute.
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Call (978) 969-2890 for a free consultation available 24/7.
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Being charged with assault and battery is serious, and the charge on your paperwork may not reflect what actually happened. We have defended people facing these charges for over 30 years in Massachusetts courts.

You are not the first person to sit with this. We have defended people facing exactly these charges, good people whose lives were upended by an accusation. If it helps to see how some of those cases actually went, you can read about some of them here.

If you are looking at charging documents right now, one thing that may surprise you is how broad Massachusetts assault and battery law is. A charge can arise from a single touch. The prosecution does not need to prove you intended to injure anyone. And what began as a domestic argument can escalate into a felony charge based solely on what a police officer observed when they arrived.

Massachusetts recognizes four forms of assault and battery charges based on the nature of the contact, the degree of harm, and the circumstances of the offense, ranging from a misdemeanor to a felony carrying up to 15 years in state prison.

● Misdemeanor under Massachusetts law, punishable by up to 2.5 years in the house of correction and a fine up to $1,000
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● Massachusetts recognizes two theories: intentional and reckless

● Intentional theory. The prosecution must prove: (1) the defendant touched another person, directly or by setting some force in motion; (2) the touching was intentional (deliberate, not accidental); and (3) the touching was harmful or offensive or done without consent. The prosecution does not need to prove intent to injure, only intent to touch.

● Reckless theory. The prosecution must prove: (1) the defendant intentionally acted in a way that caused bodily injury to another person, interfering with health or comfort in more than a trifling way; and (2) the defendant's conduct was reckless, meaning they knew or should have known their actions were very likely to cause substantial harm and proceeded anyway.

● Importantly, the prosecution must prove the touching occurred "without justification or excuse." Legitimate justifications include self-defense, defense of others, contact sports, and medical examinations

● CWOF (Continuance Without a Finding) is generally available for first-offense simple A&B where there is no restraining order involved

● Felony charge carrying up to 5 years in state prison when certain aggravating circumstances are present

● Aggravating factors that elevate simple A&B to a felony include: serious bodily injury (permanent disfigurement, loss or impairment of a bodily function, limb or organ, or substantial risk of death), or the victim was pregnant and the defendant knew or had reason to know

● Prosecutors frequently charge aggravated A&B alongside simple A&B as an alternative theory, allowing the jury to find guilt on either charge
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● The specific aggravating factor alleged must be proven by the prosecution beyond a reasonable doubt

● Felony offense under Massachusetts law: carries up to 10 years in state prison or up to 2.5 years in the house of correction, and a fine up to $5,000

● The Massachusetts legislature has never defined "dangerous weapon." Case law defines it broadly as any object used in a way likely to cause serious injury or death. This includes not just knives and firearms but items like shoes, bottles, chairs, and cars depending on how they are used.

● Prosecution must prove: (1) the defendant committed an assault and battery; and (2) the defendant used a dangerous weapon in doing so

● Aggravated ABDW carries up to 15 years in state prison and a fine up to $10,000 when: the assault caused serious bodily injury; the victim was pregnant and the defendant knew or had reason to know; the victim had an active restraining order against the defendant; or the defendant was 17 or older and the victim was under 14

● Simple A&B is a lesser included offense of ABDW, and charges are often reduced through effective defense or negotiation

● Separate felony offense under Massachusetts law, punishable by up to 5 years in state prison or up to 2.5 years in the house of correction, and a fine up to $5,000

● "Strangulation" is defined as intentionally interfering with normal breathing or blood circulation by applying substantial pressure to the throat or neck. "Suffocation" is the same result achieved by blocking the nose or mouth.

● Prosecution must prove: (1) the defendant applied substantial pressure to the throat or neck (strangulation) or blocked the nose or mouth (suffocation); (2) this interfered with normal breathing or blood circulation; and (3) the defendant acted intentionally

● Aggravated strangulation carries up to 10 years in state prison and a fine up to $10,000 when: serious bodily injury resulted; the victim was pregnant and defendant knew or had reason to know; defendant has a prior strangulation conviction; or the victim had an active restraining order against the defendant

● Any conviction or CWOF for strangulation requires completion of a certified batterer's intervention program unless the court makes specific written findings to the contrary

● Frequently charged alongside domestic A&B (s. 13M) in domestic violence cases. Prosecutors are trained to ask whether there was any contact with the neck, and will add strangulation to a complaint whenever there is

We know you are already thinking about what this charge could mean. The answer depends significantly on which charge is on your paperwork.

A simple assault and battery conviction is a misdemeanor: up to 2.5 years in the house of correction, or a fine up to $1,000. That may sound manageable, but a conviction still creates a criminal record that affects employment, professional licenses, and future charges. Aggravated assault and battery is a felony. Where the assault and battery causes serious bodily injury, or the alleged victim was pregnant or protected by an active court order, a conviction carries up to 5 years in state prison or up to 2.5 years in a house of correction, and a fine up to $5,000. Assault and battery with a dangerous weapon is also a felony. A conviction carries up to 10 years in state prison or up to 2.5 years in a house of correction, and a fine up to $5,000, rising to up to 15 years in state prison where those same aggravating circumstances are present.

Strangulation is a felony even for a first offense. A conviction carries up to 5 years in state prison or up to 2.5 years in a house of correction, and a fine up to $5,000. Where aggravating factors are present, such as serious bodily injury, a pregnant victim, a prior strangulation conviction, or an active protective order, the exposure rises to up to 10 years in state prison. And courts take these charges seriously even when the underlying incident was brief.

Beyond incarceration, a conviction creates lasting consequences: employment difficulties in any field requiring background checks, disqualification from professional licenses, loss of firearm rights, immigration consequences for non-citizens, and impact on future criminal cases. These collateral consequences often matter as much as the criminal sentence itself. A strong defense from the outset gives you the best chance of avoiding all of them.

Right now it may feel like there are no options. There are.

Massachusetts law allows you to use reasonable force to protect yourself if you reasonably believe you face imminent danger of bodily harm. The force used must be proportional to the threat, and in most situations you must attempt to retreat if you can do so safely. Self-defense claims often depend on the sequence of events and evidence of the alleged victim's prior conduct. Where the identity of the first aggressor is genuinely in dispute, Massachusetts courts permit introduction of evidence of an alleged victim's prior violent acts to support a self-defense claim.

If the contact was genuinely accidental, not conscious and deliberate, the prosecution cannot prove intentional assault and battery. The intent element is a real requirement, not a formality. In situations involving crowds, physical altercations, or medical emergencies, establishing that any contact was incidental rather than intentional can defeat the charge entirely.

In chaotic situations (bar fights, large gatherings, domestic disputes) police sometimes arrest the wrong person or rely on unreliable identifications. False accusations arise with real frequency in relationship breakdowns, custody disputes, and domestic situations where the alleged victim has a motive to fabricate or exaggerate. Demonstrating inconsistencies in the alleged victim's account, establishing their motive to lie, or presenting contradictory evidence has resolved many cases that initially appeared strong for the prosecution. Sometimes, restraining orders (for harassment prevention order violations specifically, see our reference guide to G.L. c. 258E, § 9) arise from the same circumstances as a criminal charge for assault and battery. The affidavit and testimony from the RO hearing sometimes will contradict the police report and show that the allegations were fabricated.

If police violated your rights during investigation, arrest, or questioning, evidence can be suppressed. If the Commonwealth cannot prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt, because witness testimony is unreliable, physical evidence is lacking, or the prosecution's theory simply does not match the facts, you are entitled to acquittal. These defenses require attorneys who know what to look for and how to challenge the prosecution's case effectively.

Every case is different.

If you have just been arrested, released, or received a summons, take a breath. Here is what you need to do right now.

● Don't talk to police without a lawyer present. You have the right to remain silent and you should use it
● Don't discuss your case with anyone except your attorney
● Don't contact any alleged victims or witnesses
● Preserve any evidence that might help your defense: photos, text messages, surveillance footage, witness contact information
● Write down everything you remember about what happened while it is still fresh
● Don't post anything about your case on social media
● Follow all court orders and conditions of release exactly
● Contact an experienced Massachusetts criminal defense attorney as soon as possible

‍The earlier we can evaluate the evidence and preserve what helps your defense, the more options we have.