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Criminal Defense
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Personal Injury
Raleigh Assault on a Female Lawyer
Serving Wake County & Beyond
250+ Reviews and counting
This charge is treated as a serious offense under North Carolina law and can carry harsh consequences. Schedule a confidential consultation with an experienced Raleigh defense attorney to discuss your case.
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One accusation. One arrest. One moment that could change everything.
If you’ve been charged with assault on a female in North Carolina, you’re facing a legal nightmare that could haunt you for years—or even decades—to come. This isn’t just another misdemeanor. It’s a Class A1 misdemeanor with enhanced penalties designed to follow you long after any jail time is served.
At DeMent Askew Johnson & Marshall, we’ve seen how these charges destroy careers, families, and futures. We’ve also seen how the right defense can make all the difference.
Don’t wait another day. Your future depends on what you do right now.
Under North Carolina law, assault on a female occurs when:
What makes this charge particularly dangerous is that it elevates what would typically be a Class 2 misdemeanor (simple assault) to a Class A1 misdemeanor—the most serious misdemeanor level in North Carolina’s criminal code.
The prosecution doesn’t need to prove you caused serious injury. They don’t need to prove you used a weapon. All they need to show is that an assault occurred and the alleged victim was female.
The penalties for assault on a female in North Carolina vary based on your prior criminal record:
But here’s what the prosecution won’t tell you: the true punishment extends far beyond any jail sentence. A conviction means:
One moment of alleged misconduct could dismantle everything you’ve worked for throughout your entire life.
Based on our decades of experience defending these cases in Raleigh and throughout North Carolina, we see these charges typically arising from:
Many of our clients are ordinary people with no criminal history who never imagined themselves facing criminal charges. They made one mistake—or in many cases, were wrongfully accused—and suddenly found their lives turned upside down.
Assault on a female cases involve unique legal and strategic challenges:
At DeMent Askew Johnson & Marshall, our criminal defense attorneys have successfully defended hundreds of assault on a female cases. We understand these unique challenges and how to effectively address them.
When facing these serious charges, having the right defense strategy is critical. Our experienced defense team builds customized strategies that may include:
Remember, the prosecution must prove every element of the charge beyond a reasonable doubt. With strategic, aggressive defense, many cases can be dismissed, reduced, or resolved without a conviction.
When you choose our firm to defend against assault on a female charges, you benefit from:
We don’t just defend cases—we defend people, reputations, careers, and futures.
If you’ve been charged with assault on a female in Raleigh or anywhere in North Carolina, time is critical. Here’s what you need to do immediately:
The sooner we can begin building your defense, the more options we’ll have to fight the charges. Early intervention can sometimes lead to charges being reduced or dismissed before they permanently impact your record.
At DeMent Askew Johnson & Marshall, we understand what’s at stake when you’re facing assault on a female charges. Your freedom. Your reputation. Your career. Your family. Your future.
Our team of experienced criminal defense attorneys is ready to stand between you and the serious consequences of an assault on a female conviction.
The consultation is completely confidential.
Call us now or complete our online contact form to schedule your consultation. There’s a right way and a wrong way to handle assault charges—let us help you protect everything that matters.
Serving clients in the following counties: Wake, Durham, Orange, Carteret, Chatham, and Johnston.
Wake County
Carteret County
Durham County
Orange County
Chatham County
Johnston County (Smithfield courthouse only)
Under North Carolina General Statute § 14-33(c)(2), assault on a female occurs when a male 18 years or older commits any assault, assault and battery, or affray against a female. This gender-specific charge elevates what would normally be a Class 2 misdemeanor (simple assault) to a Class A1 misdemeanor, the most serious misdemeanor level in North Carolina.
No. The prosecution does not need to prove that the female suffered any physical injuries. Under North Carolina law, an assault can be either:
Either definition can support an assault on a female charge without any physical injury occurring.
Yes, you can be charged even if you were acting in self-defense. However, self-defense is a valid legal defense to this charge. North Carolina recognizes your right to use reasonable force to defend yourself, even against a female attacker. The key is whether your response was proportional to the threat you faced.
Under North Carolina’s expungement laws, you may not expunge any conviction that has assault as an element of the offense.
However, dismissals and not guilty verdicts generally can be expunged. This underscores the importance of fighting these charges effectively from the start.
Legal fees vary based on the complexity of your case, your attorney’s experience, and your location. At DeMent Askew Johnson & Marshall, we offer transparent fee structures and payment plans to ensure quality representation is accessible when you need it most. We provide detailed fee information during your initial consultation.
This depends entirely on timing and context. Self-defense requires an ongoing or imminent threat—not retaliation after an attack has ended.
If she was actively attacking you and you used reasonable force to stop the ongoing assault, you may have a valid self-defense claim. North Carolina law allows you to use force necessary to protect yourself from continued harm, and your response must be proportional to the threat (you cannot escalate from no weapon to a deadly weapon).
However, if she struck you and the incident was over, then hitting her back is retaliation—a separate assault, not self-defense. Self-defense protects you from an active threat, not past harm.
This is why having experienced legal representation is crucial. We can analyze the specific timeline of events, witness statements, and evidence to determine whether you have a valid self-defense claim or whether other defense strategies are more appropriate for your case.
Possibly. As a Class A1 misdemeanor, the maximum sentence is 150 days in jail. Whether you actually receive jail time depends on your prior criminal record and the specific circumstances of your case:
The court has discretion to impose active jail time, intermediate punishment (like supervised probation), or community punishment.
An experienced criminal defense attorney can:
Potentially. If the alleged victim is a current or former spouse, someone you live with or have lived with, or someone you have a child with, they may request a Domestic Violence Protective Order (DVPO) under Chapter 50B. This civil order is separate from your criminal case and can:
Yes. Under federal law (18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(9)), anyone convicted of a misdemeanor domestic violence offense is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition for life. This applies to assault on a female charges when the victim is a current or former spouse, cohabitant, or has a child with you. Even in non-domestic cases, a conviction can affect your ability to obtain a concealed carry permit in North Carolina.
In North Carolina, only the prosecutor (not the alleged victim) has theuthority to dismiss criminal charges. Even if the alleged victim recants or refuses to cooperate, the prosecution may proceed with the case using other evidence, such as:
However, victim cooperation often significantly impacts how the case proceeds, and an experienced attorney can use this factor in negotiating with prosecutors.
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