C.A.C., A CHILD, APPELLANT,
v.
STATE OF FLORIDA, APPELLEE
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A juvenile was adjudicated delinquent for aggravated battery based on stabbing another child with a fork during a fight. The appellate court found the evidence insufficient to support aggravated battery and reduced the finding to simple battery, finding that the injuries were minor and the fork was not a deadly weapon as used.
The evidence was insufficient to prove aggravated battery because the victim did not suffer great bodily harm and the fork, as used in this case, was not a deadly weapon. However, the evidence was sufficient to support a conviction for simple battery, to which the case is reduced.
[1] Aggravated battery requires proof that the defendant intentionally or knowingly caused great bodily harm, permanent disability, or permanent disfigurement, or used a dead…
[2] The determination of whether injuries constitute great bodily harm is a question of fact.
Previewing 2 of 6 headnotes on this case. FLexlaw’s editorially structured points of law — every proposition, pinpointed — are reserved for members.
Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligence“The State was required to prove that C.A.C. used a deadly weapon, or that he intentionally caused great bodily harm to the victim.”
Establishes the statutory elements required to prove aggravated battery under Florida law.
Previewing 1 of 3 key quotes on this case — the court’s exact language, pinpointed for members.
Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligenceC.A.C., age 10, engaged in a physical altercation with an 11-year-old victim. During the struggle, C.A.C. stabbed the victim two or three times in the…
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THREADGILL, Acting Chief Judge.
C.A.C., a juvenile, appeals an order finding him guilty of committing the delinquent act of aggravated battery and placing him on community control. He claims the evidence presented at trial was insufficient to establish a prima facie case of guilt against him for the offense of aggravated battery. We agree and reduce the finding of guilt from aggravated battery to simple battery.
Section 784.045, Florida Statutes (1999), provides:
(l)(a) A person commits aggravated battery who, in committing battery:
1. Intentionally or knowingly causes great bodily harm, permanent disability, or permanent disfigurement; or
2. Uses a deadly weapon.
Thus, the State was required to prove that C.A.C. used a deadly weapon, or that he intentionally caused great bodily harm to the victim.
Taking the evidence in the light most favorable to sustaining the trial court’s finding, C.A.C., who was ten years old, was involved in a physical altercation with the victim, who was eleven years old. During the struggle, C.A.C. stabbed the victim two or three times in the back with a fork. C.A.C. had been using the fork to eat watermelon before the fight began. After the fight, the victim had scratches, swelling and puncture marks on his back. The victim, however, did not receive medical treatment for the injuries.
First, we must determine whether the victim suffered great bodily harm. The issue of whether injuries constitute great bodily harm is a question of fact. See Owens v. State, 289 So. 2d 472 (Fla. 2d DCA 1974). The State, however, must prove more than that the victim suffered some harm. See Williams v. State, 651 So. 2d 1242 (Fla. 2d DCA 1995). This court has observed that great bodily harm “ ‘means great as distinguished from slight, trivial, minor, or moderate harm, and as such does not include mere bruises as are likely to be inflicted in a simple assault and battery.’ ” Owens, 289 So. 2d at 474 (quoting Anderson v. State, 155 Ind.App. 121, 291 N.E. 2d 579 (1973)). Here, the evidence was insufficient to establish that the victim suffered great bodily harm.
Next, we must determine whether the fork in this case qualified as a deadly weapon. A deadly weapon is: any instrument which, when used in the ordinary manner contemplated by its design, will or is likely to cause death or great bodily harm; or any instrument likely to cause great bodily harm because of the way it is used during a crime. See D.C. v. State, 567 So. 2d 998 (Fla. 1st DCA 1990). “Whether a weapon is deadly is a question of fact to be determined under all the circumstances, taking into consideration the weapon and its capability for use.” E.J. v. State, 554 So. 2d 578, 579 (Fla. 3d DCA 1989). When used in the ordinary manner contemplated by its design, a fork is not likely to cause death or great bodily harm. Further, as noted above, C.A.C.’s use of the fork caused scratches, swelling and puncture marks, which did not require medical treatment. The State presented no evidence to establish that the fork, as used in this case, was likely to cause great bodily harm. Thus, the evidence was insufficient to establish aggravated battery. The evidence presented, however, does support a finding of guilt for simple battery.1 We therefore remand to the trial court with instructions to find C.A.C. guilty of battery and resentence him accordingly.
Reversed.
CASANUEYA and STRINGER, JJ., Concur. . Simple battery occurs when a person actually and intentionally touches or strikes another person against the will of the other or intentionally causes bodily harm to another person. See § 784.03(l)(a), Fla. Stat. (1999).
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Chau Ngoc Nguyen v. State, 858 So. 2d 1259 (Fla. 1st DCA 2003)…harm, permanent disability, or permanent disfigurement to the victim or by using a deadly weapon, to wit: an electric stun gun. Proving great bodily harm requires proving more than slight, trivial, minor, moderate, or some harm. See C.A.C. v. State, 771 So. 2d 1261, 1262 (Fla. 2d DCA 2000). The record attachments in this case show that the victim testified that it hurt when she was shot with the stun gun and that it caused her to lie down and an officer testified that he saw burn marks on the victim. However,…
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Smith v. State, 969 So. 2d 452 (Fla. 1st DCA 2007)…d 578, 579 (Fla. 3d DCA 1989)). Additionally, great bodily harm is “distinguished from slight, trivial, minor, or moderate harm, and as such does not include mere bruises as are likely to be inflicted in simple assault and battery.” C.A.C. v. State, 771 So. 2d 1261, 1262 (Fla. 2d DCA 2000). Smith relies on D.C. v. State, 567 So. 2d 998 (Fla. 1st DCA 1990), and C.A.C., supra, to support his position that the state did not provide sufficient evidence that the bleach, as used, was likely to cause great bodily ha…
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Gordon v. State, 126 So. 3d 292 (Fla. 3d DCA 2011)…s distinguished from slight, trivial, minor or moderate harm, and as such does not include mere bruises as are likely to be inflicted in a simple assault and battery.” (citing Owens v. State, 289 So. 2d 472, 474 (Fla. 2d DCA 1974)); C.A.C. v. State, 771 So. 2d 1261, 1262 (Fla. 2d DCA 2000) (holding “great bodily harm” not established for aggravated battery where defendant stabbed victim two or three times with a fork, leaving victim with scratches, swelling and puncture marks for which victim did not receive m…
Previewing 3 of 15 citing cases — full citator treatment, depth of discussion, and citing context are member features.
Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligenceAuthorities Cited
- Owens v. State, 289 So. 2d 472 (Fla. 2d DCA 1974)
- E.J. v. State, 554 So. 2d 578 (Fla. 3d DCA 1989)
- D.C. v. State, 567 So. 2d 998 (Fla. 1st DCA 1990)
- Alfraedo Williams v. State, 651 So. 2d 1242 (Fla. 2d DCA 1995)