WHAT IS A CLASS A FELONY : SENTENCE AND PENALTIES FOR CLASS I FELONY

North Carolina’s felonies can be classified into different “classes” that are used to determine the extent of the punishment to be given to a certain person. Class I felonies are the lowest in the class ranking..

This is a low level felony, and may not carry mandatory jail time. Property-related crimes such as felony larceny, embezzlement and obtaining property via false pretenses can be considered low-level felonies.  Class I felonies may involve:

Making terrorist threats

This occurs if someone makes a threat to commit a crime that would result in the death, terror, serious injury, or serious physical property damage. However, a person can make a “threat” simply through innuendo and even body language. But the threat itself must specifically threaten death, or serious injury or property damage.

Domestic violence

This occur if a person does the following acts to an aggrieved party or upon a minor child residing with or in the custody of the aggrieved party, by a person with whom the aggrieved party has or has had a personal relationship with. This does not include acts of self-defense. The acts are:

• Attempts to cause bodily harm, or intentionally causing bodily injury
• Placing the aggrieved party or a member of the party’s family in fear of imminent serious bodily injury or harassment

SENTENCING, PRIOR CRIMINAL RECORD

Class I felony: 3 to 12 months

For any felony offense aside from Class A felonies, North Carolina’s courts also have to assess a person’s prior criminal record level. These convictions are worth “points,” which can determine the overall sentence of a person.

Each prior Class H or I felony conviction: 2 points

Each prior misdemeanor conviction: 1 point

STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS

Others may ask about what are called “statute of limitations.” These give prosecutors only a limited amount of time to file criminal charges. Once someone commits a crime, prosecutors must file the charges within a legally established limit. If a prosecutor misses this, the charge can no longer be filed.

However, North Carolina is one of the very few states that do not have such a time limit.

Those who would like to know more about the specifics of crimes in North Carolina may contact lawyers and legal experts from nearby courts for consultations.