Fast food workers face assault charges after fight

In Pennsylvania and across the United States, there are frequently videos on social media making light of physical altercations in fast food restaurants. While many might be amused, it is certainly not funny if people are injured and there are assault charges. A conviction for assault and battery can result in long-term penalties, including jail time and fines. There can be problems after the sentence has been served, as these charges can rise to the felony level and might follow the person in all aspects of life. Oftentimes, these are individuals who are in their late-teens and just starting out in life.

According to recent reports, a fight outside a McDonald's led to a man suffering paralyzing injuries and resulted in two female employees being arrested for assault. The incident happened in the late evening after 10 p.m. The injured man and a female companion had a dispute with another person. One of the female workers confronted the couple and then the other joined in as a fight ensued. One worker, 25, was charged with felony aggravated assault. The other, 18, is charged with misdemeanor assault.

The workers and their store manager say the man's companion pushed one of the employees. The other was said to have gone over to stop the dispute. One employee said she told the people to exit the store and she was hit first. The fight extended outside the store and there are video recordings of it as it took place. The injured man was reportedly trying to help his companion. He was hit on the back of the head and knocked unconscious. The woman was treated for minor injuries. The man had damage to his spinal cord and was hospitalized with paralysis.

Dealing with assault charges can be complicated, especially when there are conflicting stories as to how the altercation started and the circumstances surrounding it. Complicating it further is when there were severe injuries to a person involved and there is video of the incident. Because these situations are rarely easy to dissect and people might have been justified in defending themselves, it is important to have a sound criminal defense strategy when facing state charges.