DOMESTIC BATTERY BY STRANGULATION (F.S. § 784.041(2)(a)); AGGRAVATED ASSAULT WITH DEADLY WEAPON (F.S. § 784.021(1)(a)) (2 COUNTS)
FELONY DV BATTERY AND AGGRAVATED ASSAULTS DISMISSED; PTI ON REDUCED CHARGES
Escambia County, FL
February 27, 2026
Client was charged in Escambia County with Domestic Battery by Strangulation (F.S. § 784.041(2)(a)), a third-degree felony carrying up to 5 years in Florida State Prison, plus two counts of Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon (F.S. § 784.021(1)(a)), each a third-degree felony carrying up to 5 years. The combined maximum exposure exceeded 15 years in state prison. Battery by strangulation is one of the most aggressively prosecuted domestic violence offenses in Florida — it scores as a Level 6 offense on the Criminal Punishment Code and frequently results in prison sentences. The two aggravated assault counts alleged that the client [REDACTED] threatened the alleged victim with a [REDACTED] deadly weapon, creating a well-founded fear of imminent violence. The prosecution's case was built on [REDACTED] statements from the alleged victim, [REDACTED] physical evidence documentation, and responding officers' observations. The client — a [REDACTED] individual with [REDACTED] — faced the prospect of years in prison, a permanent felony DV record, mandatory Batterer's Intervention, and a lifetime federal firearms prohibition.
The defense team recognized that the severity of the charges demanded an all-out pretrial campaign. We conducted exhaustive depositions of every witness, including the alleged victim and responding officers, systematically testing the prosecution's evidence under oath. Our investigation revealed [REDACTED] significant inconsistencies between the initial [REDACTED] report and the sworn deposition testimony, as well as [REDACTED] evidence that contradicted key elements of the State's theory. Through sustained negotiations informed by our deposition work — and a clear demonstration that we had exposed fatal weaknesses in the felony charges — we secured the complete dismissal of all felony counts: the Battery by Strangulation and both Aggravated Assault charges were dropped via Nolle Prosequi. The remaining allegations were resolved through the client's entry into Pretrial Intervention (PTI) on dramatically reduced misdemeanor-level offenses, which upon successful completion will result in complete dismissal and eligibility for expunction. The client went from facing 15+ years in prison on three felony counts to a path that ends with no conviction and a clean record. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes; each case depends on its facts and circumstances.