A 20-year-old woman faces assault and domestic violence charges after allegedly striking her sister with a phone. According to a report by The Hunterdon Democrat, the incident occurred at a Delaware Township home. Officials say the sister woke up the woman too early for work and the 20-year-old responded by ripping the family phone from the wall and striking her with it. The alleged victim was treated at the scene for a head injury and the alleged aggressor was charged with domestic violence and simple assault.
Under N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1, simple assault in New Jersey is when a person, “(1) Attempts to cause or purposely, knowingly, or recklessly causes bodily injury to another; or (2) negligently causes bodily injury to another with a deadly weapon.” Simple assault is typically a disorderly persons offense, but it can be decreased to a petty disorderly persons offense if it involved a consensual fight or if all parties were actually involved in the physical altercation.
A simple assault charge can result in domestic violence charges as well if the two parties involved are dating, married, living together, or relatives. In such cases, the defendant may face additional charges and penalties. It is important that these types of cases are taken seriously.
The experienced domestic violence lawyers in Princeton at Lependorf & Silverstein help those who have been accused of disorderly persons offenses.