Native American casinos in Oklahoma are a popular destination for locals and tourists alike. Those casinos offer one of the only lawful opportunities for gambling in The Sooner State. It can be a fun way to go to mark a special occasion. Many people enjoy occasionally gambling.
However, when people lose, the situation can quickly become grim. Poker players might end up embroiled in an intense dispute that becomes physical over allegations of cheating. All kinds of minor disagreements can easily erupt into physical fights in scenarios involving large amounts of money and liberal alcohol consumption. Those gambling at casinos could very easily find themselves in a fistfight with another patron. They could then end up arrested and facing charges of assault, battery or both.
There are many defense options available
A physical fight at a casino may have occurred because one individual tried to take the card the other used to pay for their games. There may have been a threat made or inappropriate physical contact intended to humiliate or intimidate another person.
Sometimes, the situation may not actually reach the standard necessary for assault or battery charges. Other times, there might be a reasonable justification for one party’s behavior during the fight.
If the other party made direct threats or if they initiated physical contact, the person accused of assault might be able to claim that they acted in self-defense. People have a right to defend their physical safety and their property from the criminal intentions of others.
There could also be a case of mistaken identity. Especially if the arrest occurs not in the middle of the fight but the next day at a different location, police officers may have identified the wrong party while handling reports of an altercation.
It is worth noting that Oklahoma specifically prohibits introducing claims of voluntary intoxication as a means of diminishing personal liability for an altercation. In other words, having too many drinks at the casino does not eliminate criminal culpability for behavior while under the influence.
That being said, there could be a host of defense strategies that can work for those accused of involvement in a physical fight at a casino. Reviewing the state’s evidence with a skilled legal team is an important step for those hoping to fight back against violent criminal charges in Oklahoma.