What is the maximum sentence for assault in South Carolina?

Under 16-3-600(E) (Misdemeanor), South Carolina assault carries a maximum sentence of 30 days and a maximum fine of $500.

Does South Carolina have a mandatory minimum for assault?

South Carolina does not impose a blanket mandatory minimum for simple assault. Specific charges or enhancements may carry their own minimums.

What factors enhance a assault charge in South Carolina?

Enhancement factors vary, but commonly include prior convictions, proximity to a school, and quantity thresholds.

South Carolina Assault Law

South Carolina Assault Defense

What you're facing under 16-3-600(E), how the penalties scale, and the questions your attorney needs to answer, specific to South Carolina (SC) law.

Offense Class

Misdemeanor

Maximum Penalty

30 days

Maximum Fine

$500

Penalty Range in South Carolina

Statute16-3-600(E) — Assault and Battery in the Third Degree

Minimum Penalty

Maximum Penalty30 days

Maximum Fine$500

South Carolina-Specific Detail

Third degree is the lowest level — equivalent to simple assault/battery. SC merged assault and battery into a single statutory scheme in 2012 under § 16-3-600. No separate 'assault' vs 'battery' distinction.

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Important: This page provides legal INFORMATION about South Carolina assault possession law as of the date of publication. Laws change frequently. This is not legal advice. The analysis draws on methods developed by defense attorneys, applied to public data. Your attorney remains the final authority on defense direction.