Chris Floyd Has Tried Thousands of Wake County Cases. Up to First-Degree Murder
A violent crime charge in North Carolina carries consequences that reach far beyond the courtroom. State prison time, a permanent felony record, lost firearm rights, and barriers to employment and housing are all on the table from the moment charges are filed. Wake County prosecutors are aggressive, and the margin for error in your defense is narrow. You need a violent crime attorney in Raleigh who has actually tried these cases, not one who settles to avoid trial.
Attorney Chris Floyd has handled thousands of criminal cases in Wake County courts, including charges up to first-degree murder. He has secured not-guilty verdicts across that full range, from misdemeanors to the most serious felonies. Named a Super Lawyer and recognized by The National Trial Lawyers as a Top Attorney, Chris Floyd is also ranked among Three Best Rated Raleigh criminal defense attorneys every year from 2022 through 2025. Our case results reflect a consistent record of fighting hard when it matters most.
We don’t rely solely on police reports. From the outset of each case, we conduct our own independent investigation to identify weaknesses in the prosecution’s evidence. Those findings can become leverage in negotiations or at trial. Free and confidential initial consultations are available, with flexible payment plans.
Have you been arrested or accused of a violent crime? Call (919) 805-3663 today, or contact us online to schedule a free consultation.
What Is Considered a Violent Crime?
Violent crimes are offenses in which the perpetrator uses or threatens to use force against another person. North Carolina law covers a broad spectrum, from misdemeanor-level assault to capital murder. The applicable charge depends on the nature of the act, the severity of harm caused, and whether aggravating factors are present.
North Carolina sentencing is governed by the Structured Sentencing Act, which assigns every offense a felony class (Class A through Class I) or a misdemeanor class (A1, 1, 2, or 3). The actual sentence range is determined by combining the offense class with the defendant’s prior record level. For violent crimes, this framework produces serious consequences quickly.
Class A felonies, which include first-degree murder, carry life imprisonment or the death penalty. Most other violent felonies fall into Class B1 through Class E and require active prison time in a state facility upon conviction. Less serious offenses such as simple assault may be charged as misdemeanors, carrying shorter jail terms and fines, but a conviction still leaves a permanent record.
Aggravating factors, including gang-related activity, hate crime motivation, or committing the act alongside another person, can push a sentence above the presumptive range under the Structured Sentencing Act. Mitigating factors may reduce it. Both are subject to challenge, and identifying them early is a core part of how we build a defense strategy.
Beyond incarceration, a felony violent crime conviction results in the permanent loss of firearm rights under state and federal law, disqualification from many jobs and professional licenses, and potential immigration consequences for non-citizens. These aren’t secondary concerns. We address them as part of each case.
How We Build Your Violent Crime Defense in Raleigh
Effective violent crime defense in Wake County requires more than courtroom presence. It requires building the case from the ground up before trial ever begins. Our approach covers every stage from initial investigation through sentencing advocacy.
Independent Case Investigation
We investigate each case ourselves, separately from law enforcement. That means reviewing physical evidence, interviewing witnesses, and examining the circumstances of any search or arrest for constitutional violations. What we find shapes every decision that follows, whether that’s pursuing a pre-trial motion, entering negotiations, or preparing for trial.
Pre-Trial Motion Practice
The Fourth Amendment protects against unreasonable searches and seizures. When law enforcement obtains evidence through an illegal stop, warrantless search, or other constitutional violation, that evidence may be suppressible. A successful motion to suppress can materially weaken the prosecution’s case before a jury is ever seated. Pre-trial motions are a standard part of how we protect our clients’ rights in criminal proceedings.
Trial-Ready Strategy at the Wake County Justice Center
Felony violent crime charges in North Carolina are prosecuted in Wake County Superior Court, which operates out of the Wake County Justice Center. Chris Floyd has tried complex felony cases in that venue and is prepared to take your case before a judge or jury when that’s what the situation calls for. Our goal isn’t simply to resolve a case. It’s to resolve it on the best available terms, and sometimes that means going to trial.
Contact Floyd Law Offices PLLC today to schedule a free, confidential consultation with our Raleigh violent crime defense team.
Violent Crime Defense Strategies in North Carolina
Every violent crime case turns on its own facts, and viable defense strategies depend on the specific charge, the evidence, and what happened leading up to the arrest. Below are the approaches we evaluate in many matters we handle.
Self-Defense & Affirmative Defenses
North Carolina recognizes self-defense as an affirmative defense to violent crime charges. Under state law, a person may use force, including deadly force in certain circumstances, when they reasonably believe it is necessary to prevent imminent death or great bodily harm to themselves or another. The reasonableness of that belief is a fact question argued at trial, and framing that argument effectively requires a thorough understanding of what the evidence shows about the circumstances of the incident.
Challenging Witness Identification
Eyewitness misidentification is among the most common causes of wrongful convictions in violent crime cases. Identification procedures, including lineups and show-ups, are subject to legal standards, and failures to follow those standards can undermine the reliability of an identification. Cross-examining eyewitness testimony and challenging the procedures used to obtain an identification are standard defense tools we employ when the facts support it.
Contesting Physical & Forensic Evidence
DNA evidence, ballistics analysis, and surveillance footage can all be challenged. Chain of custody failures, lab procedure errors, and interpretive disputes about what forensic results actually show are legitimate grounds for contesting evidence prosecutors may present as conclusive. Physical evidence that appears strong on its face is often far more complicated on examination.
Other Defense Theories
Depending on the facts, a defense may also rest on lack of criminal intent, alibi, mistaken identity, or the argument that the prosecution can’t meet its burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. That burden sits entirely on the state and is one of the most powerful protections a defendant has under the law.
Collateral Consequences of a Violent Crime Conviction
Incarceration isn’t the only thing at stake. A felony conviction in North Carolina triggers long-term consequences that can shape a person’s life for years after a sentence is served.
Under both state and federal law, a felony violent crime conviction results in the permanent loss of the right to possess firearms. Employers, landlords, and professional licensing boards routinely run background checks, and a violent crime conviction can disqualify applicants from a wide range of jobs, housing, and licenses. For non-citizens, certain convictions can trigger deportation proceedings, denial of naturalization, or bars to reentry into the United States.
North Carolina’s expungement statutes allow for the clearing of certain criminal records, including dismissed charges and some first-time offense convictions, though eligibility criteria and waiting periods vary by charge type. At Floyd Law Offices PLLC, we assist clients with expungements and protective order defense to help address these consequences well beyond the resolution of the underlying case.
