Q: how long will a 35 year old man spend in jail for punching his 15 year old step daughter in the face?
A: This is a difficult question to answer because I do not know what the charges are. He could potentially be charged with Assault and Battery of a Family Member which is a class 1 misdemeanor. Class 1 offenses carry a maximum of 12 months in jail. If the punch caused serious injury he may be charged with Unlawful Wounding, Malicious Wounding or Child Abuse. These are all felonies and can carry a much harsher sentence. I would suggest he talk to an experienced criminal defense attorney in his area about the specific charges and what his best defense might be.
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