A 47-year-old Charlotte man is sitting in the Catawba County Detention Facility after Hickory Police arrested him on a stack of felony and misdemeanor charges, including assault by strangulation and breaking or entering to terrorize or injure someone inside. Nelson Conelius Weathers is scheduled to appear in Newton District Court Monday to face the allegations.
Weathers faces four charges in total: felony assault by strangulation, felony breaking or entering with intent to terrorize or injure, assault with a deadly weapon, and assault on a female, according to WHKY. The detention roster showed no bond amount listed for any of the four charges as of Sunday, the outlet reported.
That absence of a bond figure isn't unusual in cases like this. Under North Carolina General Statute § 15A-534.1, a judge should act promptly when available; detention for up to 48 hours can occur when no judge is available, according to the UNC School of Government.
What the Charges Actually Mean Under NC Law
The strangulation charge is described as felony assault by strangulation, according to WomensLaw.org.
The breaking or entering charge is also a Class H felony, elevated from a standard misdemeanor because prosecutors allege intent to terrorize or injure an occupant, according to the North Carolina General Assembly's statutory text. Standard breaking or entering, without that intent, is only a Class 1 misdemeanor.
Weathers' remaining two charges are assault with a deadly weapon and assault on a female. Assault with a deadly weapon may be a Class A1 misdemeanor under state law, while felony classification depends on factors including intent to kill and serious injury, according to Randall Law. A deadly weapon under North Carolina case law can include firearms, knives, or any object capable of inflicting death or serious harm. Assault on a female by a male at least 18 years old is likewise a Class A1 misdemeanor, the highest misdemeanor classification in the state, carrying a maximum sentence of 150 days in jail, according to Powers Law Firm PA.
The Catawba County Justice Center
Weathers is listed for an initial appearance in Newton District Court.
The facility houses up to eight active courtrooms across the county's District and Superior Court divisions.
Key details of the case remain unclear, including the exact relationship between Weathers and the alleged victim, whether a domestic violence protective order was active at the time of the alleged break-in, and the specific object identified as the deadly weapon in the assault charge. Weathers' scheduled appearance in Newton District Court is expected to be the next public step in the case.
