What type of injury constitutes maiming in the state of Oklahoma?

Intent to Injure Is a Crucial Element of a Maiming Charge

To be convicted of maiming, you must have deliberately caused an injury. However, you don’t need to have intended to cause the specific injury that occurred. For example, let’s imagine that you were drunk and in a fight with your brother. If you punched him in the face and he ended up with a black eye, that’s a domestic assault and battery. If you punched him in the face with the intention of giving him a black eye but accidentally knocked his eye out of the socket, that’s maiming.

Please note that premeditated intent doesn’t necessarily mean that you extensively planned to cause injury to the alleged victim. It is possible for premeditated intent to occur the instant before the injury is inflicted. This means that spur-of-the-moment actions due to anger or frustration still meet the criteria for a maiming conviction.

How a Criminal Defense Attorney Can Help

Since the punishment for maiming in Oklahoma can include life imprisonment, it’s vital that you seek experienced legal representation as soon as possible. You need a skilled Tulsa criminal defense attorney who can advocate for your interests and build the strongest possible defense to

minimize the negative consequences of the charge. Depending on the circumstances, this may include reducing the charge to a lesser offense, accepting a suspended sentence, or accepting a deferred sentence. 

At Berlin Defense, our focus is on providing aggressive defense services for individuals accused of domestic violence and other violent crimes that involve elements of coercive control in intimate partner relationships. Request our free offer, Top 10 Ways You Are Killing Your Defense, to learn about the common mistakes we often see clients make and what you can do to protect your legal rights when facing serious criminal charges in Oklahoma.