NC Criminal Law

Daniel Spiegel on Friday, July 17th, 2026

Local prosecutors in Minneapolis say they have received evidence from federal authorities pertaining to the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti by ICE agents in January. For months since the killings, evidence was withheld from local law enforcement, preventing state investigators from conducting a thorough review.  Hennepin County...

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Whichever county is the first to bring charges against the defendant has exclusive venue. See G.S. 15A-132. But if the county with exclusive venue dismisses the charges, another county with concurrent venue may initiate its own charges and obtain venue.

A misdemeanor statement of charges is a criminal pleading prepared by the prosecutor, charging a misdemeanor. A statement of charges is a type of pleading, but is not a form of process, and cannot be used to initiate a prosecution and compel the defendant to appear. See G.S. 15A-922(b)(1).

A statement of charges may charge the same offenses as the original pleading or additional or different misdemeanor offenses. G.S. 15A-922(d).

If the defendant does not introduce evidence, the defendant has the right to the first and last closing argument. 

A judge must accept a plea arrangement that involves only charges and no sentence recommendation, as long as the judge determines the plea is the product of an informed choice of the defendant and there is a factual basis for the plea. See G.S. 15A-1023(c).