Felony Assault Criminal Defense Lawyer Raleigh, NC

According to N.C.G.S. § 14-32(b), an offense accusing a person of using a deadly weapon and causing an injury the law considers serious (broken bones, lasting impairment, or wounds requiring significant medical treatment) elevates a felony assault charge and the potential repercussions faced by the accused.

One of the most severe assault charges is outlined in N.C.G.S. § 14-32(a), which alleges not only the use of a deadly weapon but a specific intent to cause death. Intent is rarely proven by words alone; Wake County courts typically rely on witness accounts, prior conflicts, and the manner in which the weapon was used.

Malicious maiming alleges that a person intentionally disfigured or disabled another, such as injuring an eye, ear, or limb. Citing N.C.G.S. § 14-30, this felony assault charge focuses on permanent harm and malice, which means prosecutors must prove more than a spontaneous fight or reckless act.

When the alleged victim has a physical or mental disability known to the accused, the law, based on N.C.G.S. § 14-32.1, increases penalties because of the victim’s vulnerability. These cases often hinge on what the accused reasonably knew at the time of the incident.

Most often seen in nursing homes, hospitals, or care facilities, this offense, outlined under N.C.G.S. § 131E-128, accuses a caregiver of intentionally harming or neglecting a patient in their care.

Under N.C.G.S. § 14-32.3, elder abuse charges focus on harm or reckless neglect of an older adult, particularly when the accused had a duty to provide care.

North Carolina law provides in N.C.G.S. § 14-33.2 that the state can elevate repeat misdemeanor assaults to felony status when a person has prior assault convictions within a set period. The new charge may arise from conduct that would otherwise constitute a misdemeanor, so prior record becomes the primary factor for prosecutors in building their case.