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Misdemeanor Domestic Assault in Missouri

MISDEMEANOR DOMESTIC ASSAULT

Missouri has many laws designed to protect family members from domestic violence. Domestic violence means knowingly causing, or attempting to cause, physical harm to your family members — whether that be your spouse, your children, or other members of your home.

MISDEMEANOR DOMESTIC ASSAULT MISSOURI STATUTE

Title XXXVIII – Chapter 565.076

Domestic assault in the fourth degree.

  1. A person commits the offense of domestic assault in the fourth degree if the act involves a domestic victim, as the term “domestic victim” is defined under section 565.002, and:

(1) The person attempts to cause or recklessly causes physical injury, physical pain, or illness to such domestic victim;

(2) With criminal negligence the person causes physical injury to such domestic victim by means of a deadly weapon or dangerous instrument;

(3) The person purposely places such domestic victim in the apprehension of immediate physical injury by any means;

(4) The person recklessly engages in conduct which creates a substantial risk of death or serious physical injury to such domestic victim;

(5) The person knowingly causes physical contact with such domestic victim knowing he or she will regard the contact as offensive; or

(6) The person knowingly attempts to cause or causes the isolation of such domestic victim by unreasonably and substantially restricting or limiting his or her access to other persons, telecommunication devices or transportation for the purpose of isolation.

  1. The offense of domestic assault in the fourth degree is a class A misdemeanor, unless the person has previously been found guilty of the offense of domestic assault, of any assault offense under this chapter, or of any offense against a domestic victim committed in violation of any county or municipal ordinance in any state, any state law, any federal law, or any military law which if committed in this state two or more times would be a violation of this section, in which case it is a class E felony.

PENALTY OF CONVICTION

As domestic assault in the fourth degree is a class A misdemeanor, a conviction can result in jail for 1 year or less and up to $1,000 in fines, as well as any subsequent fees or court costs.