Assault can be elevated to a felony when the victim is which of the following?

Assault can be elevated to a felony when the victim is which of the following?

• A. A family member
• B. A minor
• C. A peace officer or judge discharging official duties
• D. A person with no prior record

Answer: (C)

Assault is generally a misdemeanor, but it becomes a felony when the victim is a peace officer or judge performing official duties. This enhancement protects those who enforce the law and administer justice, reflecting the higher risk they face and the society’s need to deter violence against officials in the course of their duties. Other potential victims—such as family members or minors—or factors like the offender’s lack of a prior record do not trigger this specific enhancement, because the statute ties the felony level specifically to the victim’s official status, not to relationship or past behavior.

Assault is generally a misdemeanor, but it becomes a felony when the victim is a peace officer or judge performing official duties. This enhancement protects those who enforce the law and administer justice, reflecting the higher risk they face and the society’s need to deter violence against officials in the course of their duties. Other potential victims—such as family members or minors—or factors like the offender’s lack of a prior record do not trigger this specific enhancement, because the statute ties the felony level specifically to the victim’s official status, not to relationship or past behavior.