Which statement accurately describes NY assault degrees?

• A. Assault 2 is intentionally causing physical injury; Assault 1 adds a weapon; Assault 3 is assault 2 with non-serious injury.
• B. Assault 2 requires a weapon; Assault 1 is without weapon; Assault 3 involves serious injury.
• C. Assault 1 and 2 are the same level.
• D. Assault categories require proof of intent to commit larceny.

Answer: (A)

NY assault degrees rise with how seriously harm is intended or caused, especially whether a weapon or dangerous instrument is involved and whether the resulting injury is serious. The statement that best fits that pattern is that the middle level targets intentionally causing physical injury; the top level adds a weapon to that conduct; and the lowest level covers the form with non-serious injuries. This mirrors the general idea that escalating degrees reflect more serious circumstances (weapon use or dangerous instrument, or more serious injury), while the simplest form covers minor injuries without those aggravating factors. The other choices introduce concepts that don’t match how the degrees are structured—such as requiring a weapon in the middle degree, treating the top two levels as the same, or tying assault to intent to commit larceny.