NC Criminal Law

Joseph L. Hyde on Tuesday, August 11th, 2026

A defendant’s simultaneous possession of multiple guns will generally support only one conviction for possession of a firearm by a felon. In State v. Phelps, No. COA25-934 (June 3, 2026), the State argued that multiple convictions were warranted because the evidence showed that one of the guns found in a cache at the defendant’s home had been in his possession earlier at a different...

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Even if he does not testify, the defendant may offer evidence of a “pertinent trait” of his character. G.S. 8C-404(a)(1).

With the consent of all parties, the district court may accept guilty pleas to Class H and I felonies. G.S. 7A-272(c).

Prosecution of the defendant for an infraction will bar a subsequent prosecution for a more serious offense arising out of the same conduct.

A prosecutor’s failure to sign an indictment does not invalidate the indictment. G.S. 15A-644(a)(4).

A defendant has a Sixth Amendment right to counsel during interrogation by an officer or an informant about a pending charge after adversarial judicial proceedings for that charge have begun.