Under Illinois law, you can be charged with aggravated battery under the following circumstances:

• If the victim has suffered significant bodily harm, or is disfigured or permanently disabled as a result of your actions.
• If you choked or strangled the victim while committing the crime.

It should be noted that you do not necessarily have to apply a chokehold or put your arms around the victim’s neck or throat in order to be charged with aggravated domestic battery. Blocking the nose or mouth of domestic violence victims in order to obstruct their breathing is also considered an act of strangulation under the law.

Aggravated domestic battery is one of the most serious domestic violence or domestic abuse charges you can face in Illinois. It is a Class 2 felony which is punishable by imprisonment for anywhere from 3 to 7 years. If you have a prior aggravated domestic battery conviction on your record, you could be sentenced to up to 14 years in prison.