Florida man had sex with pit bull as neighbors begged him to stop

[Tanuki]

64. "Aggravated" is an intensifier in this context, meaning that it is considered worse than

just plain old animal cruelty. It sounds as if you're thinking it implies that the victim did something to "aggravate" the assailant, but that's not what it means in the legal sense. For clarity:
http://legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/Aggravated+Assault
..."Aggravated Assault A person is guilty of aggravated assault if he or she attempts to cause serious bodily injury to another or causes such injury purposely, knowingly, or recklessly under circumstances manifesting extreme indifference to the value of human life; or attempts to cause or purposely or knowingly causes bodily injury to another with a deadly weapon. In all jurisdictions statutes punish such aggravated assaults as assault with intent to murder (or rob or kill or rape) and assault with a dangerous (or deadly) weapon more severely than "simple" assaults.

West's Encyclopedia of American Law, edition 2. Copyright 2008 The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved.



aggravated assault n. the crime of physically attacking another person which results in serious bodily harm and/or is made with a deadly or dangerous weapon such as a gun, knife, sword, ax or blunt instrument. Aggravated assault is usually a felony punishable by a term in state prison. (See: assault)

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