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7: Mayhem, Torture, Types of Battery Crimes, and Assault with a Deadly Weapon

  • Page ID
    69134
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    Learning Objectives
    • Recognize the crime of mayhem from a provided scenario.
    • Assess the crime of torture.
    • Distinguish between the types of battery crimes.
    • Identify the differences between felony and misdemeanor domestic violence crimes.
    • Explore the crime of child abuse.
    • Research the crime of assault with a deadly weapon.

    • 7.1: Mayhem
      This page covers California's aggravated mayhem under Penal Code section 205, highlighting its definition as inflicting permanent disability or disfigurement without intent to kill. It recounts the 1907 case of Bertha Boronda, who severed her husband's penis in a fit of jealousy. Despite claiming emotional insanity as a defense, she was convicted and initially sentenced to five years but served only two, resulting in her divorce. Both she and her husband remarried later.
    • 7.2: Torture
      This page defines torture under California law, specifically Penal Code section 206, highlighting its nature as the deliberate infliction of extreme pain for malicious reasons. It uses the story of Abner Louima, a Haitian American victim of severe police brutality in 1997, to illustrate this crime's impact. Louima's case resulted in major injuries, multiple surgeries, and a significant civil suit settlement.
    • 7.3: Types of Battery Crimes
      This page covers California's battery laws, detailing forms like simple battery, felony battery, sexual battery, and domestic violence, along with varying legal interpretations and a notable case involving Kevin Spacey. Additionally, it shares a personal account of a Native woman overcoming domestic violence and addiction, emphasizing her struggle to regain custody of her children after the loss of her daughter.
    • 7.4: Child Abuse
      This page covers the legal definition of child abuse in California and the context of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act. It presents statistics showing high rates of neglect and physical abuse, especially among infants. Additionally, it defines sexual abuse and discusses its severe impacts on victims. The page further examines the effects of stress on young children, distinguishing between normal and toxic stress, the latter leading to harmful long-term effects.
    • 7.5: Assault with a Deadly Weapon
      This page provides an overview of the crime of assault with a deadly weapon under California Penal Code section 245, detailing penalties for different assault types, including the use of firearms and other deadly weapons. Penalties range from imprisonment for one year in county jail to twelve years in state prison, along with potential fines of up to $10,000.
    • 7.6: Chapter Summary
      This page covers a range of violent crimes including mayhem, torture, and various forms of battery (simple, felony, and sexual). It defines mayhem as causing permanent harm and torture as intentional infliction of extreme pain. Simple battery involves offensive touching, while felony battery causes serious injuries. Sexual battery is non-consensual contact, and domestic violence and battery apply within familial relationships, with domestic battery classified as a misdemeanor.


    This page titled 7: Mayhem, Torture, Types of Battery Crimes, and Assault with a Deadly Weapon was last modified on Sat, 03 Oct 2026 18:42:39 GMT and is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by George Cartwright.