Flirting can be enjoyable and even exciting for those involved. Some people flirt casually at bars and other social environments. There are even professionals who may flirt with customers to increase their tips and acquire repeat customers.
Flirting can sometimes cross the line and become inappropriate. Occasionally, those who have had too much to drink might put their hands on someone after buying them a beverage. A customer who feels frustrated with a professional declining their advances after weeks of regular interactions and extra gratuities might try to touch a professional offensively. People who become aggressive while flirting might engage in behavior that puts them at risk of assault charges.
Offensive touching is a form of assault
Maryland classifies a variety of different behaviors as assault. Making offensive contact with another person without their consent is potentially a form of second-degree assault.
In fact, the offensive physical contact does not necessarily even need to occur for the state to charge a defendant with assault. If one person attempts to grope another but fails, that attempt at offensive contact could be enough to warrant a second-degree assault charge.
What constitutes offensive contact largely depends on the perspective of the other party involved in the situation and the dynamic between the people involved. Those accused of second-degree assault based on offensive physical contact could be at risk of up to 10 years in prison and $2,500 in fines.
Learning about Maryland’s assault statutes can help defendants plan a court strategy. Depending on the circumstances, those accused of initiating offensive physical contact can potentially avoid an assault conviction if they have the right assistance.