A 21-year-old Jacksonville woman is being held without bond after deputies say she attacked a man with an 8-inch butcher knife during a domestic dispute Saturday, cutting his forearm near the wrist while a child was reportedly in the room. Rocio Vargas now faces charges of assault with a deadly weapon, misdemeanor domestic violence and misdemeanor child abuse.
The Onslow County Sheriff's Office arrested Vargas on Saturday in connection with the alleged attack, according to WCTI. Charging documents cited by the station allege that Vargas attacked a man with the knife, cutting his right forearm near the wrist, and also struck him in the face with her hand.
Deputies accused Vargas of putting a child at risk during the confrontation, with the child reportedly present in the room while the alleged assault unfolded, per the same charging documents. Investigators have not detailed the child's age, identity or relationship to Vargas, and it remains unclear whether the child was physically harmed.
Charges and Custody Status
Vargas is charged with assault with a deadly weapon, the misdemeanor crime of domestic violence, and misdemeanor child abuse, the station's report states. She is currently being held in the Onslow County Jail without bond, though the reasoning behind that detention decision and any bond amount have not been disclosed in available reporting.
North Carolina law lays out specific classifications for the domestic-violence charge Vargas faces. Under G.S. 14-32.5, the misdemeanor crime of domestic violence is classified as a Class A1 misdemeanor, according to the statute's text, though the full elements of the offense extend beyond what is publicly excerpted. Separately, the misdemeanor child-abuse statute, G.S. 14-318.2, applies to a parent of a child under 16, or another person providing care or supervision, who inflicts physical injury, allows physical injury to be inflicted, or creates or allows a substantial risk of harm.
Case Fits a Broader Pattern in State Data
The Jacksonville case comes as North Carolina has seen a divergence in its crime trends this year. Reported crime declined statewide during the first six months of 2026, with one notable exception: domestic-related violence, according to WRAL.
The station's report on the state figures found that overall property crime dropped 11.9% and violent crime fell 5.8% during that period. Yet kidnapping cases rose 4.6% and intimidation cases rose 8.2% over the past year, with intimate partners responsible for 54% of the kidnapping offenses and 15% of the intimidation offenses tracked in the report.
No court date, bond hearing outcome, or response from Vargas or an attorney representing her has been made public. The alleged victim's identity and medical condition following the reported knife wound have also not been disclosed.
