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The City of Raleigh North Carolina

The city of Raleigh is known as the City of Oaks and is named for Sir Walter Raleigh, the famed English explorer from the Queen Elizabeth I’s reign. As the 2nd most populous state in North Carolina, and the 41st most populous in the US, Raleigh is one of 12 cities within Wake County. It’s been the capital city of North Carolina since 1792.

Raleigh one of the fastest-growing cities in the US, and has a population of 474,069 (as of the 2020 census.)

Education and The Research Triangle

Raleigh, North Carolina, USA downtown
Raleigh, North Carolina, USA downtown city skyline

One of the things Raleigh is known for is the number of educated people that live here. There are twelve universities to choose from, and a wide range of industries that call the Raleigh area home.

The Research Triangle, also called simply “The Triangle” came about in the 1950s after the creation of Research Triangle Park. It is named for the three hub cities of Durham, Raleigh and Chapel Hill. The area contains North Carolina State University, Duke University, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, with the three cities as the boundaries. The area is also home to 13 other universities, as well as multiple high-tech companies that draw residents in from around the country.

Raleigh has slowly welcomed a fair amount of people from around the country, moving to this vibrant city. Since 2020, the entire Triangle area has quietly seen an increase in population, particularly in the suburbs. Raleigh is the tenth most popular city for moving to. While many folks move in from nearby Charlotte and Durham, a fair amount come from New York City. When the pandemic kept people out of the office, many people took their work from home jobs with them when they moved here.

The area boasts a strong infrastructure and affordable housing when compared to other major cities. And the central location means that many major cities are a car ride or a short plane ride to visit. For people with families, Raleigh also has some of the best school systems available. Nationwide, the state ranks midway through the list of best schools.

Things To Do

The area boasts three major state museums: art, history, and natural sciences, and all three are free to visit. Raleigh also has a diverse art scene, complete with touring Broadway shows, the Carolina Ballet, the North Carolina Opera, and NC Symphony.

Foodies have a variety of places to sample and enjoy local fine cuisine any night of the week. Three wineries, two distilleries, and nearly 30 craft breweries offer some of the finest local artisan spirits available. Bustling shopping and nightlife in the downtown area also offer an enjoyable time.

The Carolina Hurricanes are the state’s NHL (hockey) team, and baseball fans can enjoy the Carolina Mudcats Low-A baseball games. Soccer fans can enjoy North Carolina FC men’s or North Carolina Courage women’s pro soccer at the WakeMed Soccer Park. College athletics abound, and stock car racing is also a local favorite.

North Carolina’s Court System

The Tarheel State has a more simplified court system than other states, starting with:

• Legislative
• Executive
• Judicial

The third branch is the one that handles constitutional interpretation, as well as crime and punishment. Judicial is divided into three parts of its own:

• Appellate Division
• Superior Court Division
• District Court Division

Everything is handled at the state level, and there are no local courts. Most people who are arrested and charged with a crime have a trial at the state level. However, the federal court handles crimes and matters on that level, including crimes committed across state lines, on federal land, or are otherwise interstate.

District and superior courts handle crimes and civil matters up to $25,000. The appellate division and the state Supreme Court handle only appeal cases and questions of law and whether a case was properly handled.

Even though the court system is more streamlined than in other states, managing your way through a proceeding can be difficult without the right legal counsel. If you’ve been accused of a crime in the Raleigh/Wake County area, you need a top criminal defense attorney familiar with the Wake County’s court system. It is strongly suggested that you don’t attempt to defend yourself,  especially if a major crime. You could lose your case and go to jail and have a permanent criminal record that will follow you around forever.

Call an Experienced Wake County Criminal Defense Attorney

Dewey P. Brinkley has earned a strong reputation in Raleigh, North Carolina as reputable Criminal Defense attorney. Do not hesitate to hire a knowledgeable and experienced criminal defense attorney right after your ticket or arrest. He can help you or your loved one defend themselves against DWI charges, misdemeanors, and serious felony offenses.

Dewey P. Brinkley is the criminal defense attorney you may need. Before working on the defense side, he was a Wake County Assistant District Attorney. His  understanding of the Wake County criminal justice system enables him to handle minor crimes to the most serious felony charges. If you are accused of any crime, Dewey is ready to help.

Call our law offices today for a free initial consultation to discuss your criminal defense case at (919) 832-0307 or use our online contact form.

What Does The Term “Simple Affray” Mean In Raleigh, NC Court Cases?

It was supposed to be a fun night out, but it ended badly.

Maybe you went to a concert, a bar, or somewhere else with a gathering of other people. Somehow, you found yourself in a fight situation. You may have been in the wrong place at the wrong time, or you ran into someone you knew. Maybe you or someone else had a little too much to drink and it went wrong while waiting for the Uber.

All you know is that at the end of the night, you were charged with something called “simple affray.”

What It Means

Simple affray is a term used to describe a fight situation—whether threatening to fight someone, or actually instigating violence and throwing punches, and creating a situation that can escalate into something bigger.

one man holding another back from in a bar during an example of a simple affray in Raleigh, NCIn North Carolina, simple affray means that you have committed three things:

  1. You’ve engaged in a fight with another person (this includes self-defense)
  2. This fight took place publicly, in a public place
  3. By engaging in this fight, you’ve caused terror to the public

You can also be charged with simple affray even if you didn’t throw a punch, and weren’t responsible for starting the fight. Inciting a fight (“egging them on”) can also lead to this charge, as well as leading members of the public to believe that they are in danger as a result.

Additionally, if you do throw a punch, even in self-defense, you can also be charged with simple assault.

The Charge

Simple affray in Raleigh, NC is considered a Class 2 Misdemeanor. It is, however, a criminal charge, not a civil one. Victims may have suffered minor injuries that don’t require medical attention.

This charge is designed to punish individuals for not only engaging in violence but also provoking others to do so. Police use this charge to keep the peace when there is the potential for a more dangerous situation, including rioting.

Defense Against Simple Affray

Locating witnesses who can corroborate your side of events as well as offer additional information on what led to the affray, is a good start to building your defense.

Because many venues and public areas now have video surveillance, sending a subpoena for that information is essential to supporting your defense and testimony. Other witnesses can also be identified from video, as well as other aspects of the incident that witnesses and participants may not be aware of already.

Finding strong defense counsel right away can help build your defense and uncover what really happened.

Consequences

For a first offense Class 2 misdemeanor conviction, you can expect to spend from one to 30 days in jail. For subsequent convictions, the jail time can be as high as 60 days, along with fines of up to $1,000.

More severe assaults that lead to injuries are punished more harshly, including ones that involve weapons, domestic violence, serious injury or sexual battery. The state imposes harsher penalties when the assault involves:

  • Females, when the assailant is a male over 18
  • Sports officials—empires, coaches and referees at any organized sports event
  • State employees and officers, public transit operators, campus and/or private security officers, if the assault occurs while they are acting in their official capacity
  • School employees and volunteers (public, private or charter) who are on school property, in the middle of a school event, or are transporting students to or from school

Let Dewey P. Brinkley Defend You For Simple Affray

Dewey P. Brinkley is a former Wake County Assistant District Attorney. If you’re charged with simple affray, he can defend you in criminal court and work for the best possible outcome. Call Mr. Brinkley today at 919-832-0307 or use our contact page to schedule your free consultation.