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NC Criminal Law

New Bulletin on Money Laundering under G.S. 14-118.8
Joseph L. Hyde on Wednesday, September 9th, 2026

A new Administration of Justice Bulletin on Money Laundering under G.S. 14-118.8 is now available here. I previously posted about the relatively new statutory offense here, and this bulletin expands on the issue.

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Evidence of the victim’s character may be introduced in two circumstances: First, the defendant may introduce evidence of a “pertinent trait” of the victim’s character. G.S. 8C-404(a)(2). The most common example is evidence of the victim’s violent character, offered when the defendant is claiming self-defense. Second, in homicide cases, the state may offer evidence of the victim’s character trait for “peacefulness” to rebut a claim by the defense that the victim was the first aggressor.

A statement of charges, criminal summons, arrest warrant, citation or magistrate’s order may be amended at any time before or after final judgment as long as the amendment does not change the nature of the offense charged. G.S. 15A-922(f).

An initial appearance may be held before a magistrate anywhere within the state. See G.S. 7A-273(7).

If the defendant (or any defendant in a multi-defendant case) puts on evidence, then state has the right to the first and last closing argument.

If a case is transferred to another district for prosecution, the prosecutor of the originating district must continue to prosecute the case, unless the prosecutor of the receiving district consents to the prosecution. See G.S. 15A-133(d).

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