Assault charges can either be classified as a misdemeanor or a felony. Arizona misdemeanor assault is defined as follows:
13-1203. Assault; classification
A. A person commits assault by:
- Intentionally, knowingly or recklessly causing any physical injury to another person; or
- Intentionally placing another person in reasonable apprehension of imminent physical injury; or
- Knowingly touching another person with the intent to injure, insult or provoke such person.
B. Assault committed intentionally or knowingly pursuant to subsection A, paragraph 1 is a class 1 misdemeanor. Assault committed recklessly pursuant to subsection A, paragraph 1 or assault pursuant to subsection A, paragraph 2 is a class 2 misdemeanor. Assault committed pursuant to subsection A, paragraph 3 is a class 3 misdemeanor.
Most people think of assault as physically hurting another. Indeed, when people hear the term "domestic violence" they think of a person being physically harmed in a domestic setting. When people hear the term "domestic violence" they think of assault.
As this web sites makes clear, in Arizona, domestic violence is much more than assault. And when it comes to assault, under Arizona law, one need not hurt, or even touch another to be charged with assault. An unwanted touch can be assault. An aggressive movement which scares another can be assault. The bottom line is that assault in Arizona encompasses a whole host of behaviors other beyond "hurting" another.
