§ 22-18-1 — Simple assault--Violation as misdemeanor--Third or subsequent offense a felony--Violation in other states.

A person is guilty of simple assault, a Class 1 misdemeanor, if the person: (1) Attempts to cause bodily injury to another and has the actual ability to cause the injury; (2) Recklessly causes bodily injury to another; (3) Negligently causes bodily injury to another with a dangerous weapon; (4) Attempts by physical menace or credible threat to put another in fear of imminent bodily harm, with or without the actual ability to harm the other person; or (5) Intentionally causes bodily injury to another which does not result in serious bodily injury. If the defendant has been convicted of, or entered a plea of guilty to, two or more violations of simple assault under this section, simple assault or aggravated assault under § 22-18-1.05 , aggravated assault under § 22-18-1.1 , assault under § 22-18-26 , intentional contact with bodily fluids under § 22-18-26 .1, or assault under § 22-18-29 , within ten years of committing the current offense, the defendant is guilty of a Class 6 felony for any third offense, a Class 5 felony for a fourth offense, and a Class 4 felony for a fifth or subsequent offense. Any conviction for, or plea of guilty to, an offense in another state which, if committed in this state, would be a violation of a crime described in this section and occurring within ten years prior to the date of the violation being charged, shall be used to determine if the violation being charged is a subsequent offense.

Legislative History

SDC 1939, §§ 13.2401, 13.2403; SDCL § 22-18-8; SL 1973, ch 147; SL 1976, ch 158, § 18-1; SL 1980, ch 173, § 2; SL 1981, ch 174; SL 1998, ch 132, § 1; SL 1999, ch 117, § 1; SL 2005, ch 120, § 1; SL 2011, ch 115, § 1; SL 2019, ch 108, § 1; SL 2021, ch 92, § 1.