Raleigh Violent Crime Lawyer

Attorneys Licensed in North Carolina & Florida

North Carolina takes any violent crime, or offense upon a person, very seriously. If you've been accused of a violent crime, not only do you risk facing criminal penalties you in job, housing and loan applications, and even in your personal relationships. And experienced defense attorney can help fight for favorable outcomes, such as case dismissal and not guilty verdicts.

The Raleigh criminal attorneys at Clifford Law Group will fight for your rights if you've been accused of assault, disorderly conduct or any other violent crime. Our aggressive and thorough attorneys will challenge the prosecutor's evidence and seek to have your charges reduced or dismissed. We will also maintain an open line of communication with you so that you'll know what's going on in your case. We are based in Raleigh and can serve clients in Chapel Hill and Durham.

Call us today at (919) 441-1799 to schedule a free consultation to discuss your case. Clifford Law Group represents those accused of violent crimes in Wake, Orange and Durham Counties and the surrounding areas.

Assault Charges in Wake County

Assault and assault/battery are some of the most common violent crimes in the state. Although not specifically defined in the North Carolina Criminal Code, an assault is the act of intentionally putting someone in fear of bodily injury, and battery is an unwanted intentional touching of another person. The law also outlaws participating in an "affray," more commonly referred to as fighting. An assault or assault/battery by itself is a Class 2 misdemeanor. (North Carolina General Statutes § 14-33)

Certain factors can elevate an assault charge, including:

• If the person was a child younger than 12, a state, city or county employee, a school employee or volunteer, a bus driver, a security guard, or if a man assaults a woman, the charges go up to a Class A1 misdemeanor.
• Using a deadly weapon, including pointing a gun at a person, will also elevate the assault to Class A1.
• Assaulting a law enforcement officer is a Class I felony, or a Class F felony if the officer is seriously injured.
• Assaulting a person with a deadly weapon is a Class E felony, and is a Class C felony if the person is seriously injured. (N.C.G.S. § 14-32

Other Violent Crimes in the Research Triangle

Disorderly conduct is a public disturbance in which the accused intentionally engages in fighting or other violent behavior or makes any kind of statement or gesture that is likely to provoke violent behavior. Disorderly conduct charges can be particularly harmful in the Research Triangle because specific elements of the charges may pertain to schools, both public, like the University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill or North Carolina State University, private, like Duke University. A person may be charged with disorderly conduct if he or she takes control of a school building or refuses to vacate after being told to do so by an official. A person may also face charges of disorderly conduct for protesting at a school.

---

Arrested? Contact us today to begin building the defense you need. Call (919) 441-1799.

---

Kidnapping

Another common violent crime charge is kidnapping, which means confining, restraining, or involuntarily taking a person from one place to another, in order to hold that person ransom, use him or her as a shield, facilitate another felony, help the accused or another person escape after committing a felony, do serious bodily harm to the victim, terrorize the victim or anyone else, or make them work against their will, including as a sex worker.

If the victim suffered serious bodily injury or was sexually assaulted in the course of kidnapping, the charge is a Class C felony. If the victim was not, it is a Class E felony. (N.C.G.S. § 14-39) Abduction of children, which involves the accused taking or enticing away children from the parents, agency or institution that is legally entitled to custody, is a Class F felony. This includes if you are the biological parent, but have lost custody rights. (N.C.G.S. § 14-41)