This law covers lower-level assaults. A person commits this crime by trying to hurt someone, accidentally hurting them through careless actions, making someone fear they are about to be hurt, creating a serious risk of death or injury, or making unwanted physical contact that a reasonable person would find offensive — especially toward a person with a disability. Most violations are a Class A misdemeanor. But if the offense is only about making someone fear injury or making offensive contact, it is a lesser Class C misdemeanor — unless the victim is a "special victim" (like a child, elderly person, or law enforcement officer), in which case it goes back up to a Class A misdemeanor.
Classifications stated in the statute. Actual outcomes vary.
565.056. in the fourth degree. — 1. A person commits the of assault in the fourth degree if:
(1) The person attempts to cause or causes , physical pain, or illness to another person;
(2) With the person causes physical injury to another person by means of a firearm;
(3) The person places another person in of immediate physical injury;
(4) The person recklessly engages in conduct which creates a substantial risk of death or to another person;
(5) The person causes or attempts to cause physical contact with a person with a , which a reasonable person, who does not have a disability, would consider offensive or provocative; or
(6) The person knowingly causes physical contact with another person knowing the other person regard the contact as offensive or provocative.
2. Except as provided in 3 of this section, assault in the fourth degree is a .
3. Violation of the of (3) or (6) of subsection 1 of this section is a unless the victim is a , as the term "special victim" is defined under section 565.002, in which case a violation of such provisions is a class A misdemeanor.
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Red section numbers link to that law.
Source & history notes
(L. 2014 S.B. 491) Effective 1-01-17
Related Missouri laws
Special victims
RSMo 565.058
Assault in the third degree
RSMo 565.054
Assault, second degree, penalty
RSMo 565.052
Assault, first degree, penalty
RSMo 565.050
Domestic assault, first degree
RSMo 565.072
Death penalty, if held unconstitutional, resentencing procedure
RSMo 565.040
Legal information, not legal advice. Always confirm with the official source at revisor.mo.gov.