Simple assault, simple battery, and simple assault and battery are misdemeanor crimes in Oklahoma. Oklahoma defines an assault in accordance with both of the common law definitions: an attempt to commit a battery, or the intentional placing of another in apprehension of receiving an immediate battery. Minnix v. State, 1955 OK CR 37, 282 P.2d 772; Dunbar v. State, 1942 OK CR 150, 131 P.2d 116, 75 Okl. Cr. 275, overruled on other grounds, Parker v. State, 1996 OK CR 19, ¶ 23, n.4, 917 P.2d 980, 986 n.4; Tyner v. United States, 1909 OK CR 108, 103 P. 1057, 2 Okl. Cr. 689. See generally R. Perkins, Criminal Law 114-27 (2d ed. 1969).

Simple battery is also defined in Oklahoma in accordance with the common law concept. It is an unlawful beating, or use of wrongful physical violence or constraint upon the person of another, without that person's consent. Minnix v. State, supra. See generally R. Perkins, Criminal Law 107-13 (2d ed. 1969).

Every battery, by definition, includes an assault, although an assault can be perpetrated without a battery. The Court of Criminal Appeals has held that, when an assault culminates in a battery, the offense is assault and battery, and prosecution should be commenced for that grade of assault and battery which is reasonably supported by the State's proof of the facts. Hall v. State, 1957 OK CR 34, 309 P.2d 1096.

Specific intent is not an element of simple assault, simple battery, or simple assault and battery. Hainta v. State, 1979 OK CR 61, 596 P.2d 906; Morris v. State, 1973 OK CR 421, 515 P.2d 266.

In Steele v. State, 1989 OK CR 48, ¶12, 778 P.2d 929, 931, the Court of Criminal Appeals held that only the slightest force or touching is necessary to constitute the force required for battery. This degree of force is reflected by the definition of force in OUJI-CR 4-28.