In Assault 3 Sub. 2, what age must the victim be for it to be classified as a felony?

The classification of Assault in the third degree, under Subdivision 2 in Minnesota law, specifically concerns the age of the victim when determining the felony charge. According to the law, when the victim is under 18 years old, the offense is classified as a felony. This is designed to offer stronger protections to minors due to their vulnerability.

Victims who are under 18 are considered to warrant significant legal protections, recognizing their inability to fully defend themselves against potential harm from older perpetrators. Therefore, if an assault occurs against an individual in this age group, it escalates the seriousness of the crime in the eyes of the law, leading to felony charges for the accused.

This distinction emphasizes the legal system’s focus on protecting younger individuals from predatory behavior and reinforcing the notion that assault against minors is treated with greater severity.