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If you get drunk and throw a few punches, you could find yourself facing criminal charges. Bar fights may be a staple of television shows, but they’re a bad idea in real life.

There are, in fact, a number of criminal charges that could come with a bar fight, and there’s a good chance the whole altercation will be on video, and that there will be numerous witnesses. Bar brawls are best avoided here in Los Angeles County. 

Trespass

Often the staff of a bar will ask you and the person things are getting tense with to leave. If you ignore them or refuse to do so, you could be charged with criminal trespass.

This is a misdemeanor. The penalty is either 6 months in jail, $1000 in fines, or both.

Disturbing the Peace

Disturbing the peace is a crime that specifically covers issues such as bar fighting. It is a crime to: “Unlawfully fight in a public place or challenge another person in ap public place to a fight; maliciously and willfully disturb another person by loud and unreasonable noise; or use offensive words in a public place which are inherently likely to provoke an immediate violent reaction.” 

Disturbing the peace is a misdemeanor. The penalty is up to 90 days of jail, a fine of $400, or both. 

Assault

If punches actually got thrown, and you only used your fists, then you could be charged with assault. This is a much more serious crime.

If the fight didn’t cause any serious harm or injury, then assault is a misdemeanor. The penalty is up to 6 months in jail, a fine of up to $2000, or both. 

If the fight does cause serious harm or injury, then assault can become a far more serious felony charge. 

If you pick up any weapon, even a glass mug or a pool cue, then you could be well on your way to a battery charge. You don’t even have to injure the other fighter or fighters to be charged with aggravated assault. Aggravated assault can lead to up to 4 years in prison, a fine of up to $10,000, or both. 

Battery

The crime of battery is very similar to the crime of assault. It is a criminal offense to “intentionally and unlawfully touch someone else in a harmful or offensive manner without their consent. This includes punching, kicking, poking, slapping, spitting on someone, or kissing them against their will.”

Battery is a misdemeanor. The penalty is up to six months in jail, a fine of $2,000, or both. 

Get Help Today

Any time you are caught up in a bar fight you should take the matter seriously, even if you were only defending yourself. If you are convicted of any of these crimes, you could face life-changing consequences.

Reach out to our legal team to get help today. We’re ready to help you craft a defense that might reduce or eliminate the impact this bar fight could have on your life. 

See also: 

How Does Probation Work in Los Angeles? 

How Does Parole Work in Los Angeles? 

How Pretrial Diversion Works in Los Angeles