Indiana Simple and Aggravated Battery Lawyers

Your Defense Starts Here.

How Can an Indiana Battery Lawyer Help With Your Charge?

A battery case can look very different depending on what happened. One allegation may lead to a misdemeanor charge. Another can become a serious felony based on the alleged injury, weapon, or other circumstances.

Summerfield-Dandurand Law Group, LLP, Founders of Custom Law defends people facing simple and aggravated battery charges throughout Indiana. Based in Noblesville, we serve Hamilton County, Carmel, Fishers, Westfield, and communities across the state. Our attorneys examine what happened, what the evidence shows, and whether the charge fits the facts.

The level of the charge can change what is at stake. You need to know exactly what the State says you did and what it must prove. Contact Custom Law to discuss your battery charge and your options for defending it.

What Is the Difference Between Simple and Aggravated Battery in Indiana?

Indiana law recognizes different levels of battery based on the alleged conduct and surrounding circumstances. A battery allegation can range from a misdemeanor to a serious felony.

Under Indiana Code § 35-42-2-1, battery generally involves knowingly or intentionally touching another person in a rude, insolent, or angry manner. The level of the offense may increase based on factors such as bodily injury, the use of a deadly weapon, or the status of the alleged injured person.

Aggravated battery is addressed separately under Indiana Code § 35-42-2-1.5. It involves knowingly or intentionally causing certain serious injuries to another person. Aggravated battery is generally a felony, and the level can depend on the circumstances of the alleged offense.

The distinction matters because a change in the charge can mean a significant change in the possible sentence. An Indiana battery lawyer can review the facts, determine what elements the State must prove, and identify issues that may affect the charge or your defense.

What Are the Consequences of a Battery Conviction in Indiana?

The consequences of a battery conviction depend on the level of the charge. A misdemeanor can result in jail time and fines, while more serious felony charges can carry years in prison.

A conviction may also lead to:

• Jail or prison time: The possible sentence depends on whether the offense is charged as a misdemeanor or felony.
• Fines: A conviction may include financial penalties based on the level of the offense.
• A criminal record: A battery conviction can remain on your record and affect future opportunities.
• Employment consequences: A criminal record may affect your current job or future employment.
• Professional licensing issues: Certain convictions may affect professional licenses or credentials.
• Firearm restrictions: Depending on the conviction and circumstances, your right to possess a firearm may be affected.
• Housing challenges: A criminal record can create problems when applying for some housing.

The exact consequences depend on the charge and your circumstances. Knowing what you face can help you make informed decisions about your defense.

How Can an Indiana Battery Lawyer Help?

Battery cases often turn on details that are disputed. Who started the confrontation? Was the contact intentional? Were you defending yourself or someone else? Do the witness accounts match the physical evidence? Those questions can change how a battery case is defended.

Custom Law examines the police reports, witness statements, recordings, medical records, photographs, and other available evidence. Our attorneys compare that evidence with the State’s version of events and look for facts that may support self-defense, challenge intent, or undermine the charge.

Our criminal defense team also examines how the investigation was handled and raises legal challenges when there are grounds to do so. Whether you face misdemeanor battery or aggravated battery, we build the defense around what actually happened and what the State can prove.

Why Choose Custom Law for a Battery Defense?

Battery cases can turn on conflicting accounts, questions about intent, self-defense, and the extent of an alleged injury. Custom Law brings former prosecutor experience, Indiana trial experience, and direct attorney involvement to your defense.

Former Hamilton County Prosecutors

Robert Summerfield and Nicholas Dandurand both served as prosecutors in Hamilton County before moving into criminal defense. Robert also prosecuted cases in Madison County. Our attorneys understand how prosecutors assess battery allegations and prepare criminal cases because they have done that work themselves. We now use that experience to identify issues in the State’s case and prepare your defense.

Indiana Trial Experience

Robert Summerfield has practiced criminal law in Indiana for more than a decade. His experience includes criminal cases in Hamilton and Madison counties and work on both sides of the courtroom. That background matters when a battery case requires hearings, motions, or trial. Our team prepares each case with the courtroom in mind.

Direct Attention From a Boutique Firm

Custom Law is a boutique firm built around personal attention. Robert Summerfield and Nicholas Dandurand remain directly involved in the cases they handle. You get straight answers about the charge, your options, and the decisions ahead. We build your defense around the facts of your case rather than taking a one-size-fits-all approach.

Hamilton County Court Experience

Custom Law is based in Noblesville. Our attorneys have worked in Hamilton County as both prosecutors and defense attorneys, giving us practical familiarity with the local court process. We also represent clients facing battery charges in Carmel, Fishers, Westfield, and throughout Indiana.

Trial-Ready Preparation

Not every battery case goes to trial, but every case needs careful preparation. Our attorneys examine the charge, the evidence, and the issues that could affect the State’s case. If your case proceeds to trial, we are prepared to present your defense and make the State prove the charge.

What Happens After You’re Charged With Battery in Indiana?

A battery charge can involve several stages. Custom Law guides you through each one and explains the decisions you may need to make.

1. Review Your Case: We start with what happened, who was involved, and what led to the charge. Our attorneys review the allegations and explain what the State must prove.
2. Examine the Evidence: We review available police reports, witness statements, recordings, medical records, photographs, and other evidence. We look for conflicting accounts, missing information, and facts that may affect the charge.
3. Build Your Defense: Your defense depends on the circumstances. Issues such as self-defense, intent, witness credibility, or the extent of an alleged injury may be important. We explain the available options and develop a strategy around the facts.
4. Handle Court Proceedings: Our attorneys represent you at hearings and other pretrial proceedings. When there are grounds to challenge evidence or another part of the case, we raise those issues with the court.
5. Evaluate Your Options: If the State makes an offer, we explain what it means and what accepting it would require. The decision is yours. If trial is the right path, Custom Law is prepared to present your defense.
6. Address the Outcome: What happens next depends on how the case ends. If sentencing or another proceeding follows, we continue representing you. We can also explain whether options such as expungement may be available based on the outcome.

You will know where your case stands throughout the process. We will explain your options, answer your questions, and tell you straight what comes next.

Talk to a Battery Defense Attorney in Indiana Today

If you are facing a simple or aggravated battery charge, you need clear answers about what the charge means and what options you have. Custom Law represents clients in Noblesville, Hamilton County, Carmel, Fishers, Westfield, and throughout Indiana.

Our attorneys will listen to what happened, review the circumstances of the charge, and give you a clear picture of where you stand. You will know what your options are and how we can approach your defense.

Contact Custom Law to request a confidential case review. Tell us what happened. We will tell you straight what comes next.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I Be Charged With Battery if the Other Person Was Not Injured?

Yes. A visible injury is not always required for a battery charge in Indiana. The charge depends on the alleged contact and the circumstances. An injury can, however, affect how seriously the offense is charged.

What if I Was Acting in Self-Defense?

Self-defense may apply if you reasonably believed force was necessary to protect yourself or another person. Whether it applies depends on how the confrontation started, the level of force used, and other facts surrounding the incident.

Can Battery Charges Be Dropped if the Other Person Does Not Want to Prosecute?

The alleged injured person does not control whether a criminal case continues. Prosecutors decide whether to pursue or dismiss charges. A person’s decision not to cooperate may affect the evidence available, but it does not automatically end the case.

Can a Battery Charge Become a Domestic Battery Charge in Indiana?

It can, depending on the relationship between the people involved and the circumstances of the alleged offense. Indiana has separate laws addressing domestic battery. The correct charge matters because different elements and consequences may apply.

What Are Common Defenses to an Indiana Battery Charge?

The available defense depends on what happened. Possible issues may include self-defense, defense of another person, lack of intent, conflicting witness accounts, or evidence that does not support the alleged contact or injury. A battery defense lawyer can review the evidence and determine which issues apply to your case.