North Carolina General Statute 14-33(c)(2): Assault on a Female by a Male Person

If an adult male assaults an adult female in North Carolina, they may be charged with assault on a female by a male person. While this charge is typical in instances of domestic violence, the male and female do not need to have any relationship for the charge to stick. 

An assault is legally defined as an attempt to bodily harm someone through the use of violence or the threat of force. As long as the offender has the immediate means to act upon the threat, they do not have to touch the victim for an assault to take place. In other words, if an adult male threatens an adult female and could immediately act on that threat if he so wished, he could be charged with assault regardless of whether or not he went through with it. Since the legal definition of assault in North Carolina is vague, it is critical to have a knowledgeable and skilled criminal defense attorney in your corner to argue your case and advise you on the best course of action moving forward.

Assault on a female by a male person is classified as a Class A1 misdemeanor. A1 misdemeanors are the most severe misdemeanor charges in the state and can carry significant penalties for those convicted. The specific punishments you may face if convicted rely heavily on aggravating or mitigating factors that affect the severity of the crime. Depending on these factors, you may be sentenced to one of the following levels of punishment if convicted:

• Active Punishment: Those sentenced to active punishment may face up to 150 in jail. If this charge is not your first offense, you may be sentenced to a minimum of 30 days behind bars. 
• Intermediate Punishment: Under an intermediate sentence, you may also have to serve up to 150 days in jail. However, if it is your first offense, you may be able to split your sentence between jail time and probation. 
• Community Punishment: This level of punishment is the least severe. If sentenced to community punishment, you may be placed on probation and ordered to perform community service or be placed under house arrest. 

Your defense attorney will use their expertise to investigate every detail of your case so they can do everything in their power to get your charges and penalties reduced or dismissed.

If you have been charged with assault on a female, there is too much on the line to go without the knowledge and expertise of a seasoned criminal defense attorney. At King Law, our criminal defense attorneys are well-versed in employing a wide range of defense strategies to help their clients fight assault charges in North Carolina. A few strategies your attorney may utilize include:

• You acted in self-defense
• You acted in defense of others
• You were misidentified, and another person assaulted the victim
• You have a solid alibi that places you in a different location at the time of the assault 

Your attorney will take the time to get to know you and your case to craft the best defense strategy that fits the unique facts of your case. They will interview witnesses and collect evidence to erode the prosecutor’s case against you.