Simple Battery. Do I finish school?

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I was friends with a girl in my nursing program. I sat in line to register her for school when she was away on vacation, I was a good friend. Well, she had a thing for my boyfriend and would constantly text him. He did not respond and she assumed it was because I would not let him (NOT the case) and she pretty much turned on me.

She started rumors that he was cheating, she would call our mutual nursing friends when she knew they were with me and would tell them to leave me and go out with her. She even had the nerve to still text my BF!! She threw a end of the year party and invited EVERYONE, except me.

We were at a bar for a girl's bday party. We were both intoxicated and she was pointing and laughing at me, closing the group off to exclude me, just being an awful person. I ended up slapping her. Open handed slapped her ONE TIME. She ended up pressing charges. I am being charged misdemeanor battery for ONE open handed slap that caused no injury. She showed up to the court date and is trying to pursue charges mainly out of spite. I graduate in December. My lawyer is leaning towards supervision, but that is 3 years before expungement. Do I even bother finishing school? Am I going to be able to get a job? This is NUTS! I should not have slapped her, but this is a little much. Am I going to be able to get a job?

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I'm somewhat speechless, quite honestly.

If this girl was so horrible to you, why go to a party where she was also invited? If your friends were listening to her, they weren't really your friends. And you let this girl get under your skin enough to take physical action against her.

So what if it was only one open-handed slap! You came on this board complaining about her behavior, and she never touched you. Imagine your reaction if she had slapped you. Sounds like she was egging you on and she got your goat.

Because the charge is expungeable, I would strongly suggest you finish your degree given the time and effort and money already applied.

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I was completely unaware she was going. My reaction would not have been to press charges. I can guarantee that. And I am not some batterer. I don't even have a speeding ticket! I am not a trouble maker, I had been provoked for months and I tried to remedy the situation numerous times. It was a swift mistake and I have avoided going out all semester to be away from her. Had I known she was there I would not have gone. I am embarrassed and ashamed of the situation. I have never been in the back of a police car and t was definitely not a proud moment. She does not have a glowing past. Pressing charges is about revenge and nothing more. I was in the wrong, but I am not one to take things this far. No injury, no mark. This is a little much. I have texts from when we were friends about her havig her husband follow classmates home to ticket them on duty! She is a mean person. Maybe no physically, but she gets you where it hurts.

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You should have pressed counter charges (if you haven't gone to court yet it may not be too late) then use it as a bargaining tool to get her to drop the charges. You drop yours and she drops hers, I'm surprised your lawyer didn't suggest that. hmmm

Disclaimer: Please do not use this as legal advise, I am but a fool (at times)

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