Which condition constitutes Domestic Assault 2nd?

• A. If he or she intentionally and knowingly causes bodily injury to his or her intimate partner with a dangerous instrument
• B. If he or she intentionally and knowingly causes bodily injury to his or her intimate partner with a deadly weapon
• C. If he or she intentionally and knowingly causes bodily injury to his or her intimate partner without a weapon
• D. If he or she intentionally and knowingly causes bodily injury to a stranger with a dangerous instrument

Answer: (A)

The key idea is that Domestic Assault 2nd comes from injuring an intimate partner while using a dangerous instrument. Here, the act involves intentionally causing bodily injury to someone in an intimate relationship, and the injury was done with an object classified as a dangerous instrument. That combination—intimate partner relationship, bodily harm, and the use of a dangerous instrument—meets the criteria for the second-degree domestic assault charge.

If a deadly weapon were used, the charge would typically be higher because deadly weapons carry greater harm potential. If there’s no weapon, the offense would usually be a lower level, not 2nd degree. And targeting a stranger isn’t domestic at all, so it wouldn’t be Domestic Assault.