Bates v. State

MAXWELL, J„

for the Court:

¶ 1. Mississippi has a special interest in protecting its law enforcement officers who are acting within the scope of their duties — an interest reflected in our assault statute.1 While simple assault is a misdemeanor, punishable by up to six months in jail, simple assault on a law enforcement officer acting within the scope of his duty is a felony, punishable by up to five years in prison.2

¶ 2. Scott Herman Bates contends that he cannot be guilty of the enhanced crime of simple assault on a law enforcement officer because the certified law enforcement officer he…