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NC General Statutes

N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-33.2 (2026)

Habitual misdemeanor assault

✓ current as of July 2026
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A person commits the offense of habitual misdemeanor assault if that person (i) violates any of the provisions of G.S. 14-33 and causes physical injury, G.S. 14-32.5, or G.S. 14-34, and (ii) has two or more prior convictions for misdemeanor assault, felony assault, or a violation of G.S. 14-32.5, with the earlier of the two prior convictions occurring no more than 15 years prior to the date of the current violation. A conviction under this section shall not be used as a prior conviction for any other habitual offense statute. A person convicted of violating this section is guilty of a Class H felony.  (1995, c. 507, s. 19.5(c); 2004-186, s. 10.1; 2025-70, s. 17(b).)

 

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 34 cases (2 in the last 5 years), 2000–2025 · leading case: State v. Smith, 533 S.E.2d 518 (N.C. Ct. App. 2000).
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State v. Smith, 533 S.E.2d 518 (N.C. Ct. App. 2000). · cites it 50× “For that reason, I find it prudent to take the analysis a step further to address whether a conviction under N.C. Gen.Stat. § 14-33.2 (1996) for habitual misdemeanor assault will properly serve to support an ancillary indictment under the Habitual Felons Act, N.”
State v. Fields, 827 S.E.2d 120 (N.C. Ct. App. 2019). · cites it 8× “" N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-33.2 (2017). Habitual Misdemeanor Assault is a Class H felony.”
State v. Forrest, 609 S.E.2d 241 (N.C. Ct. App. 2005). · cites it 12× “N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-33.2 (2003). Defendant argues in his brief that because the statute “does not say that misdemeanors that occur at the same time can be counted separately” towards the five prior convictions required for conviction of habitual misdemeanor assault, this Court…”
State v. Carpenter, 573 S.E.2d 668 (N.C. Ct. App. 2002). · cites it 6× “Defendant argues that the habitual misdemeanor assault statute is unconstitutional as applied to defendant because it retroactively increases the punishment for defendant’s five misdemeanor charges used to support the habitual misdemeanor assault charge.”
State v. Barnett, 784 S.E.2d 188 (N.C. Ct. App. 2016). · cites it 8× “§ 14-33 ; and (2) habitual misdemeanor assault under N.C. Gen.Stat. § 14-33.2. Defendant's indictment for misdemeanor assault specifically alleged that Defendant (1) assaulted a *111 female person, (2) "caused physical injury to the victim, [specifically] bruises to her head and…”
State v. Shaw, 737 S.E.2d 596 (N.C. Ct. App. 2012). · cites it 22× “N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-33.2 provides that: A person commits the offense of habitual misdemeanor assault if that person violates any of the provisions of [N.”
State v. Garrison, 736 S.E.2d 610 (N.C. Ct. App. 2013). · cites it 8× “See N.C. Gen. Stat. §§ 14-33.2 , 15A-928(c) (2011).”
State v. Vardiman, 552 S.E.2d 697 (N.C. Ct. App. 2001). · cites it 4× “Relying on Priddy , this Court in Smith also held North Carolina General Statutes section 14-33.2, the habitual misdemeanor assault statute, to be a substantive offense and not "merely a status.”
State v. Massey, 635 S.E.2d 528 (N.C. Ct. App. 2006). · cites it 8× “Defendant was indicted for habitual misdemeanor assault, and prior to trial, defendant admitted to two prior convictions for misdemeanor assault on a female. On 31 August 2005, defendant again was found guilty of misdemeanor assault on a female, and, based on his admission to…”
State v. Burch, 585 S.E.2d 461 (N.C. Ct. App. 2003). · cites it 6× “N.C. Gen. Stat. §§ 14-33.2 ; 20-138.5 (2001).”
State v. Barnett, 794 S.E.2d 306 (N.C. 2016). · cites it 3× “ree rape, second-degree kidnapping, and assault on a female on 22 May 2013; (2) two counts of deterring an appearance by a witness on 4 and 20 June 2013 in that defendant attempted to prevent the alleged victim from attending court to testify regarding the 22 May events “by…”
State v. Howell, 792 S.E.2d 898 (N.C. Ct. App. 2016). · cites it 4× “2d at 520 (alteration in original) (quoting N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-33.2 ). The Smith Court noted similar language in the habitual impaired driving statute, General Statute section 20-138.”
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