PC 203 Mayhem -- Defined
Every person who unlawfully and maliciously deprives a human being of a member of his body, or disables, disfigures, or renders it useless, or cuts or disables the tongue, or puts out an eye, or slits the nose, ear, or lip is guilty of mayhem.
Notes of Mayhem:
Mayhem is a serious crime that can result in several year of prison time. The sentencing triad for mayhem is 2, 4, or 8 years in State prison. Mayhem is a serious, violent, Strike Offense. However, Mayhem is a charge that can garner a grant of probation with up to one year of county jail. The defendants criminal history, situation of the incident, and numerous other factor can be accounted for in deciding upon an appropriate sentence.
The elements of Mayhem are:
1. Defendant unlawfully and maliciously deprived a person of a member of this or her body, disabled, disfigured, or rendered it useless.
OR
2. Defendant unlawfully and malicious cut or disabled the tongue, put out an eye, or slit the nose, ear, or lip of a person.
Common incidents of Mayhem:
Common factual patterns including biting off a persons ear, nose, or other body part. However, more sinister incidents have included the use of weapons to remove body parts, such as fingers, ears, noses, etc.