The Tampa criminal defense attorneys at Musca Law have read reports that law enforcement officials in Tampa have arrested a woman for battering a pregnant woman. Quianna Wilson, 20, was arguing with the pregnant victim outside of the victim's home on Inoma Street on Saturday. The victim is approximately eight months pregnant.
According to Tampa police, Wilson punched the pregnant woman in the back of her head, then knifed her. Wilson allegedly used a box cutter to inflict serious injuries to the victim, including a five-inch cut along her face, as well as injuries to her arms and shoulders. Law enforcement officers apprehended Wilson about an hour and a half after the incident, locating her at her Tampa residence. Police have charged Wilson with felonies - aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and battering a pregnant female. Wilson remains at the Orient Road Jail in lieu of a $15,000 bond.
The Tampa criminal attorneys note that battering a pregnant female carries enhanced penalties in the state of Florida. In order for a charged to be enhanced, the perpetrator must actually know or should have known that the woman was pregnant. In instances where the pregnant woman is far along, this is easier to prove. In domestic violence cases, even if the woman is not visibly showing her pregnancy yet, her partner frequently has actual knowledge of the pregnancy. Florida law punishes certain crimes against pregnant women, as well as some crimes against children, the mentally incompetent, and the elderly, more severely due to the special vulnerability of the victims. Additionally, in the case of pregnant women, the law is accounting for the possibility of harm to the fetus. Florida has a history of promoting victims' rights and making a concerted effort to protect vulnerable segments of the population.
If you have been charged with assault, battery, or any other crime in Florida, contact the Tampa criminal defense attorneys at Musca Law. With offices throughout the state and decades of experience in criminal defense, we provide comprehensive services you can trust.
