Benton Assault and Battery Lawyer

Trusted Assault and Battery Attorney in Benton, LA

Defending Your Name in Bossier Parish

An argument can escalate in seconds: a door slammed too hard, a push, or a fight that gets physical. In Bossier Parish, that single moment can quickly lead to a criminal charge and the fear of losing a job, public exposure, and serious penalties.

The Johnson Law Firm helps clients respond to these charges and move forward. Bossier Parish defense attorney Eric G. Johnson has represented individuals facing assault and battery accusations since 1993. That work includes a Not Guilty verdict he secured in a felony second-degree battery domestic violence trial in Benton.

As a Benton assault and battery lawyer and experienced Criminal Defense Lawyer, Eric Johnson’s goal is straightforward: protect his clients’ clean record and minimize the impact on their life. Reach out to discuss what happened, and we will lay out your options.

Assault and Battery Charges the Firm Defends in Bossier Parish

Charges in this area of Louisiana law range from a misdemeanor shove to a felony that carries years in prison, and the label police attach at arrest is not always the charge that holds up in court.

The firm defends clients against:

• Simple assault and simple battery
• Aggravated assault and aggravated battery
• Second degree battery
• Domestic abuse battery
• Aggravated second degree battery
• Battery against a police officer, school employee, or other protected person

Each of these carries its own penalty range, and the strength of the state’s evidence, not the charge printed on the arrest report, is what determines how the case should be handled.

What a Battery Conviction Can Cost in Louisiana

Louisiana law defines battery broadly. Under La. R.S. 14:33, battery is the intentional use of force or violence against another person, and it does not require an injury. A push, a slap, or a grab is enough for the state to file charges.

The Bossier Parish case Eric Johnson took to a bench trial was charged as Second-Degree Battery under La. R.S. 14:34.1, a felony punishable by up to 8 years in prison and a $2,000 fine when the state alleges serious bodily injury. That is not a charge to plead through and hope for the best. A conviction can cost a person a job, a professional license, custody time, or the right to own a firearm, and a felony stays on a record long after the case itself is closed.

This information reflects Louisiana law as of August 2026.

A Bossier Parish Bench Trial Result

The judge in that Bossier Parish courtroom heard the state’s own witnesses undercut its case and returned a Not Guilty verdict. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome in any future case, but the file shows what a real trial in this parish looks like when the defense is prepared for it.

Assault and Battery Questions From Benton and Bossier Parish Clients

What is the difference between simple battery and second degree battery in Louisiana?

Simple battery is a misdemeanor. Second degree battery, charged under La. R.S. 14:34.1, is a felony that applies when the state claims the alleged victim suffered serious bodily injury, and it carries up to 8 years in prison. The charge written on an arrest report can change once a defense attorney reviews the actual evidence.

What court handles assault and battery cases from Benton?

Criminal cases from Benton and the rest of Bossier Parish are handled by the 26th Judicial District Court at the Bossier Parish Courthouse, 204 Burt Blvd in Benton. That is the same courtroom where Eric Johnson tried the Second-Degree Battery case to a Not Guilty verdict.

Will a battery charge show up on a background check even if it gets dismissed?

An arrest can still appear on a background check even without a conviction. In Louisiana, though, the Fair Chance Hiring Act bars employers with 20 or more employees from considering an arrest or charge that did not lead to a conviction when it came from a background check, with some exceptions for law enforcement and child-protection roles. Licensing boards are not covered by that same statute, so how a case resolves still matters there.

Does the case still move forward if the alleged victim does not want to press charges?

Often, yes. In Louisiana, the decision to prosecute belongs to the district attorney’s office, not the alleged victim, so a case can continue even after the other person asks for it to be dropped.

What happens at the first court date for an assault or battery charge?

The first appearance is usually an arraignment, where the charge is read and a plea is entered. That is not the moment to explain what happened. It is the moment to already have a lawyer in place who knows how the 26th Judicial District handles these cases.

Anyone facing an assault or battery charge in Benton or Bossier Parish can reach out to the firm to talk through what these answers mean for their own case.

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Facing a Benton Assault and Battery Charge? Talk to the Johnson Law Firm

A criminal charge does not have to be the thing that defines the next 10 years. Eric G. Johnson has defended assault and battery cases in Bossier Parish courtrooms since 1993, and the Bossier Parish bench trial result above shows what happens when the state’s own witnesses are put to the test.

Contact the firm to schedule a confidential consultation and find out what this charge means for this case.