Sterling Man Charged for Assaulting Taxi Driver in Virginia
The Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office arrested a man from Sterling, Virginia, for assault and battery and other crimes after he drunkenly accosted a taxi driver, according to an article by the Loudoun Times-Mirror.
This incident occurred on Labor Day in Sterling at approximately 2 a.m. In the 200 block of North Alder Avenue, the Sterling man allegedly refused to pay a taxi driver for his fare. During the altercation that ensued, the Sterling man also allegedly assaulted the taxi driver. Thankfully, the taxi driver did not sustain any injuries from this incident.
After responding to this incident, law enforcement arrested the Sterling man, took him into custody, and held him at the Loudoun County Adult Detention Center. Although the Sterling man later secured his release on a personal recognizance bond, he currently faces criminal charges for:
- Public Intoxication;
- Procuring a Vehicle with Intent to Defraud; and
- Assault and Battery.
In order to grasp the potential criminal punishment for these offenses, it seems opportune to review several applicable penalties under Virginia law.
Virginia Penalties for Public Intoxication
The penalties for public intoxication appear under Code of Virginia Section 18.2-388. Any person convicted for this offense is guilty of a Class 4 misdemeanor under Virginia law. The usual punishment for this type of offense centers on a maximum fine of $250.
Virginia Penalties for Procuring a Vehicle with Intent to Defraud
The penalties for procuring a vehicle with the intent to defraud appear under Code of Virginia Section 18.2-206. Any person convicted for this offense is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor under Virginia law. The usual punishment for this type of offense includes confinement in county jail for up to one year and fines with an upper limit of $2,500.
Virginia Penalties for Assault and Battery
The penalties for assault and battery appear under Code of Virginia Section 18.2-57. Any person convicted for this offense is normally guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor under Virginia law. Upon conviction, the offender will usually face the same penalties described in the previous section.
That being said, if a person commits assault and battery that results in bodily injury against a victim based on certain characteristics — including race, religion, color, or national origin — it becomes a Class 6 felony under Virginia law. At that level, a conviction can result a prison sentence for up to 60 months and criminal fines up to $2,500.
Do You Need Legal Help?
If you have legal questions about charges for public intoxication, procuring a vehicle with intent to defraud, or assault and battery in Virginia, it can be highly useful to contact a proven Leesburg assault and battery attorney. The lawyers at Simms Showers LLP have established credentials in the arena of criminal defense, including public intoxication, procuring a vehicle with intent to defraud, and assault and battery. If you need legal help with criminal defense, contact us today for a free initial consultation.
Resource:
loudountimes.com/news/sterling-man-charged-with-assault-of-taxi-driver/article_5445e226-cffc-11e9-b995-f747667dca38.html
