An assault occurs when a person has been placed in fear of immediate bodily harm by another person's actions. Battery is the harmful or offensive physical contact by one person on another, regardless of the degree of such contact. Fighting is a common example of assault and battery. The punishment for assault and battery depends on the extent of the harm caused, whether a weapon is involved or whether one person was much bigger or stronger than the other.

The sentence for a simple assault and battery is a $200 fine or 30 days in jail. 

If a weapon was used, the victim was seriously hurt, or the attacker was bigger or older than the victim, the offense would be assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature, which carries a sentence of 3 months to 10 years in prison. 

S.C. Code Section 16-3-610.