Florida Statutes
Fla. Stat. § 784.03 (2025)
Battery; felony battery.
✓ 2025 Florida Statutes — current through the 2025 Regular Session
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784.03 Battery; felony battery.—
(1)(a) The offense of battery occurs when a person:
1. Actually and intentionally touches or strikes another person against the will of the other; or
2. Intentionally causes bodily harm to another person.
(2) A person who has one prior conviction for battery, aggravated battery, or felony battery and who commits any second or subsequent battery commits a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084. For purposes of this subsection, “conviction” means a determination of guilt that is the result of a plea or a trial, regardless of whether adjudication is withheld or a plea of nolo contendere is entered.
History.—s. 5, Feb. 10, 1832; RS 2401; s. 1, ch. 5135, 1903; GS 3227; RGS 5060; CGL 7162; s. 2, ch. 70-88; s. 730, ch. 71-136; s. 19, ch. 74-383; s. 9, ch. 75-298; s. 172, ch. 91-224; s. 5, ch. 96-392; s. 4, ch. 2001-50; s. 6, ch. 2021-6.
Arrestable Offenses under F.S. 784.03
M = misdemeanor · F = felony · degree: F=1st S=2nd T=3rd§784.03(2)BATTERYPRIOR CONVIC FELON BATT COMMIT 2ND SUB BATTERY
§784.03(2)BATTERYPRIOR CONVIC BATTERY COMMIT 2ND SUB BATTERY
§784.03(2)BATTERYPRIOR CONVIC AGG BATT COMMIT 2ND SUB BATTERY
§784.03(3)BATTERYBATTERY IN FURTHERANCE RIOT OR AGG RIOT
§784.03(1a1)BATTERYTOUCH OR STRIKE
§784.03(1a2)BATTERYCAUSE BODILY HARM
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 639
cases (80 in the last 5 years), 1962–2026 · leading case: United States v. Clifford B. Gandy, Jr., 917 F.3d 1333 (11th Cir. 2019).
United States v. Clifford B. Gandy, Jr., 917 F.3d 1333 (11th Cir. 2019). “’s prior conviction for battery of a jail detainee, Fla. Stat. §§ 784.03 , 784.082, qualifies as a “crime of violence” under the Sentencing Guidelines.”
State v. Hearns, 961 So. 2d 211 (Fla. 2007). “…bodily harm to an individual. (2) Whoever commits battery shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree. § 784.03, Fla. Stat. (1985).”
United States v. Eddy Wilmer Vail-Bailon, 868 F.3d 1293 (11th Cir. 2017). “” 9 Fla. Stat. § 784.03 (1)(a)(1). As interpreted by the Florida Supreme Court, actual and intentional touching—the only element necessary to support a conviction for simple battery—is satisfied by any physical contact, “no matter how slight.”
State v. Obregon, 444 P.3d 331 (Kan. 2019). “See Fla. Stat. § 784.03 (1)(a) (2009). The PSI report did not show which version in the Florida statute Obregon was convicted of violating.”
Johnson v. United States, 176 L. Ed. 2d 1 (2010). “We decide whether the Florida felony offense of battery by “[a] dually and intentionally touch [ing]” another person, Fla. Stat. § 784.03 (1)(a), (2) (2003), “has as an element the use .”
Trellus Richmond v. Mario J. Badia, 47 F.4th 1172 (11th Cir. 2022). “” Fla. Stat. § 784.03 (1)(a). Badia’s use of force left Richmond with pain in his wrist, an- kle, and back for which he sought medical treatment.”
Descamps v. United States, 133 S. Ct. 2276 (2013). “” Fla. Stat. §784.03 (1)(a) (2010). It is a distinct possibility (one not foreclosed by any Florida decision of which I am aware) that a conviction under this provision does not require juror agreement as to whether a defendant firmly touched or lightly struck the victim.”
Michael Turner v. Warden Coleman FCI (Medium), 709 F.3d 1328 (11th Cir. 2013). “” Fla. Stat. § 784.03 (1)(a). Though battery is ordinarily a misdemeanor, battery against a law-enforcement officer is a felony.”
Soverino v. State, 356 So. 2d 269 (Fla. 1978). “1976), or Section 784.03, Florida Statutes (1975); and (3) it imbues the prosecutor with unlimited discretion to determine who constitutes a member of the class of "law enforcement officers" protected by the statute because the language of the statute specifically states that…”
United States v. Aguila-Montes De Oca, 655 F.3d 915 (9th Cir. 2011). “Johnson held that a conviction under Florida's divisible battery statute, Fla. Stat. § 784.03 , was not categorically a violent felony because the statute encompassed convictions for " any intentional physical contact, no matter how slight.”
United States v. Eddy Wilmer Vail-Bailon, 838 F.3d 1091 (11th Cir. 2016). “It is exactly the same as one of the three alternative ways that a person can commit the complete crime of simple battery in Florida under Fla. Stat. § 784.03 (1)(a)(1). 2 2 Under Fla.”
United States v. Malmsberry, 222 F. Supp. 2d 1345 (M.D. Fla. 2002). “On December 15, 2000, Malmsberry committed the offense of Battery [as to Cindy Brown in violation of Fla. Stat. § 784.03 ] and Contributing to the Delinquency or Dependency of a Minor [as to Cole Malmsberry, son of Shawn Malms-berry and Cindy Cole, in violation of Fla.”
— 784.03(1) — 58 cases
Victor Villanueva v. State of Florida, 200 So. 3d 47 (Fla. 2016).
State v. Hearns, 961 So. 2d 211 (Fla. 2007). “…bodily harm to an individual. (2) Whoever commits battery shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree. § 784.03, Fla. Stat. (1985).”
Merritt v. State, 712 So. 2d 384 (Fla. 1998).
State v. Hackley, 95 So. 3d 92 (Fla. 2012).
State v. Stalder, 630 So. 2d 1072 (Fla. 1994).
— 784.03(1)(A) — 1 case
J.C. v. Dep't of Agric. & Consum. Servs., Div. of Licensing (Fla. 1st DCA 2024).
— 784.03(1)(a) — 76 cases
State v. Hearns, 961 So. 2d 211 (Fla. 2007). “…bodily harm to an individual. (2) Whoever commits battery shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree. § 784.03, Fla. Stat. (1985).”
Carpenter v. State, 785 So. 2d 1182 (Fla. 2001).
State v. Weaver, 957 So. 2d 586 (Fla. 2007).
Jaimes v. State, 51 So. 3d 445 (Fla. 2010).
Clark v. State, 783 So. 2d 967 (Fla. 2001).
— 784.03(1)(a)(1) — 10 cases
Khianthalat v. State, 974 So. 2d 359 (Fla. 2008).
State v. Hearns, 961 So. 2d 211 (Fla. 2007). “…bodily harm to an individual. (2) Whoever commits battery shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree. § 784.03, Fla. Stat. (1985).”
Jenkins v. State, 884 So. 2d 1014 (Fla. 1st DCA 2004).
Khianthalat v. State, 935 So. 2d 583 (Fla. 2d DCA 2006).
Spradlin v. State, 967 So. 2d 376 (Fla. 4th DCA 2007).
— 784.03(1)(a)(2) — 2 cases
Jenkins v. State, 884 So. 2d 1014 (Fla. 1st DCA 2004).
The State of Florida v. Kevin Beach (Fla. 3d DCA 2024).
— 784.03(1)(b) — 17 cases
State v. Hearns, 961 So. 2d 211 (Fla. 2007). “…bodily harm to an individual. (2) Whoever commits battery shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree. § 784.03, Fla. Stat. (1985).”
Watson v. State, 410 So. 2d 207 (Fla. 1st DCA 1982).
Hearns v. State, 912 So. 2d 377 (Fla. 3d DCA 2005).
Ellis v. State, 816 So. 2d 759 (Fla. 4th DCA 2002).
Savino v. State, 447 So. 2d 411 (Fla. 5th DCA 1984).
— 784.03(2) — 71 cases
State v. Warren, 796 So. 2d 489 (Fla. 2001).
State v. Warren, 755 So. 2d 145 (Fla. 1st DCA 2000).
Richard Alfred Washington v. State of Florida, 199 So. 3d 1110 (Fla. 1st DCA 2016).
State v. Clyatt, 976 So. 2d 1182 (Fla. 5th DCA 2008).
Charles Osborn v. State of Florida, 177 So. 3d 1034 (Fla. 1st DCA 2015).
— 784.03(2)(b) — 1 case
Dream Defenders v. Desantis (N.D. Fla. 2021).
— 784.03(l)(a) — 39 cases
Colony Ins. v. Barnes, 410 F. Supp. 2d 1137 (N.D. Fla. 2005).
State v. Florida, 894 So. 2d 941 (Fla. 2005).
Holborough v. State, 103 So. 3d 221 (Fla. 4th DCA 2012).
United States v. Pedro Diaz-Calderone, 716 F.3d 1345 (11th Cir. 2013).
Andrako Bradley v. State, 155 So. 3d 1248 (Fla. 4th DCA 2015).
— 784.03(l)(a)(l) — 3 cases
Yarn v. State, 106 So. 3d 39 (Fla. 2d DCA 2013).
T.S. v. State, 965 So. 2d 1288 (Fla. 2d DCA 2007).
King v. United States, 233 F. Supp. 3d 1349 (S.D. Fla. 2017).
— 784.03(l)(b) — 4 cases
Hopkins v. State, 105 So. 3d 470 (Fla. 2012).
L.W.G. v. State, 785 So. 2d 696 (Fla. 4th DCA 2001).
Blanche v. State, 744 So. 2d 573 (Fla. 2d DCA 1999).
Kerrigan v. State, 99 So. 3d 553 (Fla. 1st DCA 2012).
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