Lexington Mayhem / Maiming Attorney

What qualifies as "mayhem" in South Carolina?

Unlike numerous other states in the U.S. that include the crime of mayhem in the legal definitions of assault and/or battery, South Carolina upholds a separate statute for this violent offense. According to standard definitions, mayhem could be described as any act in which a person intentionally inflicts harm upon another to the point that it results in a permanent injury.

Also referred to as "maiming," this could include an instance in which the offender broke the victim's leg and subsequently caused them to walk with a permanent limp thereafter. In other cases, the damage could be more severe—including a traumatic brain injury, spinal cord damage or paralysis. Plainly stated, this crime encompasses all intentional acts of mutilation, disfigurement or crippling.

Examining the Penalties for Mayhem / Maiming in Lexington

In the state of South Carolina, mayhem is prosecuted as a violent felony. Since this crime rises above the level of a standard assault and battery charge, one could expect to face more severe penalties upon their conviction. In fact, this felony is punishable by three months to 10 years in prison. For this reason, you should not hesitate to retain the knowledgeable and competent assistance of a Lexington criminal attorney from the Law Office of James R. Snell, Jr., LLC if you or someone you love has been charged with this offense.

Not only could you be facing hard time behind bars, but you may also be at risk of acquiring a mark on your criminal record—which could potentially jeopardize future employment opportunities. As such, we encourage you to act quickly so that you may be able to successfully avoid being labeled a convicted felon or violent offender.

Implementing an Affirmative Defense Against Your Charges

According to the law, one must be guilty of causing catastrophic injury or disfigurement in order to be charged with mayhem. This means that it would be up to the prosecution to prove that you had, in fact, intentionally inflicted harm to the point that the victim's body part was either removed or rendered useless. As such, it would be a plausible affirmative defense to show that the victim was not injured to the extent that they suffered permanent physical damage. If this could be successfully proven, there is a good chance that the charges could be reduced to a simple assault and battery offense or even dropped completely. For this reason, we encourage you to discuss the circumstances of your arrest with a Lexington criminal lawyer from the Law Office of James R. Snell, Jr., LLC, Jr., LLC as soon as possible.

Turn to Our Lexington Criminal Lawyers for Professional Legal Guidance

If you or someone you love has been charged with mayhem in South Carolina, you should not hesitate to take immediate action in the interest of your defense. Not only could you be facing years of imprisonment, but you could be at risk of a permanently tarnished criminal record. For this reason, we encourage you to enlist the professional help that you will need to successfully avoid a conviction.