Assault by Strangulation Lawyer in Greensboro, NC
If you or a family member has been charged, call (336) 379-0539 now. If the charge involves a spouse or partner, you may be sitting in a 48-hour hold, and we can often get your case in front of a judge early. Attorney Jason Aycoth leads our defense of strangulation and felony assault charges in Guilford County.
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Assault by strangulation is a Class H felony under G.S. 14-32.4(b). It is a felony even when there are no visible marks and even on a first offense.
- What the State Has to Prove
- Strangulation vs. Serious Bodily Injury
- What You Are Facing
- The 48-Hour Domestic Hold
- The First 48 Hours in Guilford County
- How We Defend Assault by Strangulation Cases
- Protective Orders Run Alongside the Criminal Case
- What a Strangulation Defense Lawyer Costs
- How to Choose an Assault by Strangulation Lawyer in Greensboro
- Your attorney
- What clients say
- Where we practice
- Questions people ask
What the State Has to Prove
G.S. 14-32.4(b) applies to any person who assaults another person and inflicts physical injury by strangulation.
| Element | What the prosecutor needs |
|---|---|
| An assault | An intentional act against another person. |
| Physical injury | An actual injury, not just contact. |
| Caused by strangulation | The injury must come from strangulation, not from some other part of the incident. |
The statute applies “unless the conduct is covered under some other provision of law providing greater punishment.”
Strangulation cases often turn on injury evidence. Medical records, photographs, the timing of any marks, and the accuser’s own statements are where a defense is built.
Strangulation vs. Serious Bodily Injury
| G.S. 14-32.4 Subsection | What It Covers | Felony Class |
|---|---|---|
| (a) Assault Inflicting Serious Bodily Injury | Injury creating a substantial risk of death, serious permanent disfigurement, coma, protracted pain or loss of function, or prolonged hospitalization | Class F |
| (b) Assault by Strangulation | Physical injury inflicted by strangulation | Class H |
Prosecutors sometimes charge both. Your lawyer will challenge whether the evidence supports the injury each subsection requires.
What You Are Facing
Class H is a felony, which means the case can move to Superior Court and the conviction carries the lifelong consequences of a felony record.
Under the felony grid in G.S. 15A-1340.17, a Class H felony at prior record Level I carries a presumptive range of 5 to 6 months, and probation is an authorized disposition. The range climbs with each prior record level.
Whether you receive probation or active time is argued, not assigned. Your lawyer presents mitigating factors, your record and your circumstances to keep the sentence in the lowest band the law allows.
The strangulation statute has not changed since 2004. 2026 news coverage reports prosecutors and a state senator pushing to raise the penalty, so check with a lawyer for the law in effect on your offense date.
Beyond the sentence:
- A felony conviction ends the right to possess a firearm in North Carolina.
- It appears on every background check for jobs, housing and professional licenses.
- If the accuser is a partner or family member, it can be used in custody and protective order cases.
- For non-citizens, an assault conviction can carry immigration consequences. Tell your lawyer your status at the first meeting.
The 48-Hour Domestic Hold
When the accuser is a spouse or former spouse, someone you live or lived with as if married, or someone you are or were dating, G.S. 15A-534.1 says only a judge can set your conditions of release.
You can be held for up to 48 hours from arrest without a judge acting. If no judge acts in that time, the magistrate sets conditions under G.S. 15A-534.1(b).
A judge may order you to stay away from the accuser’s home, school, business or work, refrain from contact, and abstain from alcohol with continuous alcohol monitoring.
We can often get your case in front of a District Court judge early and get you released before the 48 hours are up, rather than sitting in the jail waiting for the clock. If a family member has been arrested tonight, call now.
More on how domestic holds work and bond motions.
The First 48 Hours in Guilford County
- Arrest. Greensboro arrests are processed at the Greensboro Detention Center, 201 South Edgeworth St, Greensboro NC 27401, (336) 641-2700. High Point arrests go to the High Point Detention Center, 507 East Green Drive, High Point NC 27260, (336) 641-7900.
- Release conditions. In domestic cases a judge sets conditions; otherwise a magistrate does.
- First appearance. Your first court appearance is at the Guilford County Courthouse, 201 South Eugene St, Greensboro NC 27401. Clerk: (336) 412-7300, 8:30am-5pm.
- Probable cause and Superior Court. The case may move to Superior Court by indictment. The window before that happens is often the best time to negotiate.
Check your case on eCourts at portal-nc.tylertech.cloud/Portal/.
How We Defend Assault by Strangulation Cases
- No strangulation. The State must prove the injury came from strangulation. Pushing, grabbing or a struggle is not the same thing.
- No physical injury. The statute requires physical injury. The absence of medical evidence, photos or consistent descriptions is a defense issue.
- Self-defense or defense of others. Who was the aggressor matters, and the evidence often shows a mutual or one-sided fight that differs from the first report.
- Credibility. Inconsistent statements, delayed reports, and motives in a breakup or custody fight are all fair ground for cross-examination.
- Charge reduction. Where the evidence supports a lesser assault, your lawyer can argue for a misdemeanor in place of the felony. That is negotiated, never automatic.
Read more about simple assault and our broader assault defense work.
Protective Orders Run Alongside the Criminal Case
The accuser may also file for a domestic violence protective order under Chapter 50B. Under G.S. 50B-1, domestic violence includes intentionally causing or attempting to cause bodily injury to someone you have a personal relationship with.
A 50B hearing happens in civil court, but anything you say there can be used in your criminal case. Do not go to that hearing without talking to your criminal defense lawyer first. Our firm also handles 50B protective order hearings.
What a Strangulation Defense Lawyer Costs
Felony defense fees depend on whether the case resolves in District Court or goes to Superior Court, whether there is a protective order hearing, and whether experts are needed to review medical evidence. We quote the fee after reviewing your charges.
How to Choose an Assault by Strangulation Lawyer in Greensboro
No North Carolina firm is allowed to claim it is the best. Ask any lawyer you are considering:
- How many felony assault and strangulation cases have you handled in Guilford County?
- How fast can you get a judge to hear release conditions on a domestic hold?
- Will you review the medical records and photographs yourself?
- Will you also handle the 50B hearing, or coordinate with whoever does?
- Who will appear in court with me?
Your attorney
Jason Aycoth
Criminal Defense, Felony Charges, State and Federal Court
Jason handles criminal cases in state and federal court across North Carolina. He has served as Editor of the True Bill and was Commencement Speaker at Elon Law School's graduation.
- Former President, Greensboro Criminal Defense Lawyers Association
- Elected member, Criminal Justice Section, North Carolina Bar Association
- Selected to present the Wade M. Smith Award for Top Criminal Defense Lawyer in North Carolina
Chad D. GarrettFounderJason AycothPartner
Sean OlsonPartner
Brandon GoldsboroughCriminal Defense
Stephanie GoldsboroughCriminal Defense
Rebecca ElliottCriminal Defense
Patrick BidwellCriminal Defense
Samantha HeplerCriminal DefenseWhat clients say
4.9 out of 5 from 587 Google reviews. A few recent ones:
Where we practice
We defend strangulation and assault charges in Greensboro, High Point and throughout Guilford County.
Guilford County: Greensboro · High Point · Jamestown · Gibsonville · Summerfield · Oak Ridge · Pleasant Garden · Stokesdale · Whitsett · McLeansville · Sedalia
Also serving: Randolph, Forsyth, Alamance, Rockingham and Davidson Counties
Questions people ask
Is assault by strangulation a felony in North Carolina?
Yes. It is a Class H felony under G.S. 14-32.4(b), including on a first offense.
What is the sentence for assault by strangulation in NC?
At prior record Level I, a Class H felony carries a presumptive range of 5 to 6 months, and probation is authorized. Higher record levels carry longer ranges. Where your sentence lands is argued by your lawyer.
Does strangulation require visible marks?
The statute requires physical injury inflicted by strangulation. It does not list visible marks as a requirement, which is why the State often relies on medical testimony and statements. Your lawyer tests that evidence.
Can assault by strangulation be reduced to a misdemeanor?
Sometimes, where the evidence supports a lesser assault. A reduction is negotiated by your attorney based on the weaknesses in the State’s case. It is not automatic.
How long can I be held on a domestic strangulation charge?
Up to 48 hours from arrest before a judge sets conditions under G.S. 15A-534.1. We can often get the case in front of a judge earlier.
What is the difference between strangulation and assault inflicting serious bodily injury?
Strangulation under G.S. 14-32.4(b) is Class H and requires physical injury by strangulation. Serious bodily injury under G.S. 14-32.4(a) is Class F and requires a more severe injury. They are separate charges.
Can I contact the accuser after a strangulation charge?
Not if your release conditions or a protective order forbid it, and even if they do not, contact can be used against you. Talk to your lawyer first.
Will a strangulation conviction affect my gun rights?
Yes. It is a felony, and a felony conviction ends the right to possess a firearm in North Carolina.
Do I need a lawyer for a first-offense strangulation charge?
Yes. It is a felony from the first offense, and the evidence decisions made in the first days shape the whole case.
Charged with assault by strangulation?
Call (336) 379-0539 to speak with Jason Aycoth’s team today.
Garrett, Walker, Aycoth & Olson, Attorneys at Law
317 South Greene St, Greensboro, NC 27401
(336) 379-0539 · answered live, 24 hours
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This page explains North Carolina law in general terms as of October 2026. It is not legal advice about your case, and laws and procedures change. Talk to a lawyer about the facts of your case.