People express their anger or resentment toward another person in many ways. While some may respond with force, others might opt for a less violent but offensive approach, such as spitting. Compared to punching or kicking, spitting does not result in injury, so does...
assault and battery
What elevates an attack to aggravated assault?
An accusation of assault can be scary because the nature of the charges and the extent of the penalties can vary widely and become severe. A defendant could face hundreds of dollars in fines and years in prison. North Carolina courts distinguish simple from aggravated...
Understanding protective orders
If a law enforcement officer serves you an ex parte order, this means that someone filed a complaint of domestic violence against you. This order will include a date for a hearing in which you can defend your case. A judge will hear from both you and the plaintiff at...
What type of relationship do domestic violence charges require?
Intimate partner violence, in which one party allegedly acts abusively toward someone else with which he or she has had a romantic relationship, is one of the most common forms of domestic violence. From a sociological point of view, it is only one of several...
What is the charge of criminal use of laser device?
Laser pointers are a fun way to play with a cat, but did you know they can also be harmful? In fact, you could end up with a criminal charge if you do the wrong thing with one. The North Carolina General Assembly explains you might face a charge of criminal use of...
What is simple affray?
In North Carolina, the law merges assault, which is the threat of bodily harm, and battery, which is unlawful bodily contact, into a single crime. The same law that defines and imposes penalties for assault and battery also covers a similar offense, simple affray....
Are assault and battery different crimes in North Carolina?
Most of us have seen a crime show where the police arrest a person and say that they are charging him with “assault and battery.” However, even though assault and battery is a very common turn of phrase, many people do not know what assault and battery consist of. Did...
Simple assault vs. aggravated assault
If you are facing assault charges, you need to examine the unique aspects of your case. The penalties for assault vary from one situation to the next, depending on a number of factors (such as the extent of a victim's injury and whether one used weapons). Moreover, it...
Facing possible assault charges? Here’s how to help yourself
You're not a violent person, and you never expected to end up in a physical altercation with your roommate, neighbor or some stranger at a bar -- but it happened. Now, the police are involved and you're worried you may end up facing charges (even if the other guy...
Can you legally defend yourself using violence in North Carolina?
There's an old saying that "violence begets violence." For the most part, that's true -- especially when someone is put into a position where they feel like they have no choice but to aggressively defend themselves against harm by another. But do you actually have the...