What distinguishes aggravated assault from simple assault?

• A. Simple assault involves serious bodily injury.
• B. Aggravated assault involves no weapon and minor injuries.
• C. Aggravated assault involves serious bodily injury or the use of a deadly weapon.
• D. Simple assault is the same as aggravated assault.

Answer: (C)

Aggravated assault is distinguished by elements that raise it above basic assault: serious bodily injury or the use (or display) of a deadly weapon. If the harm is severe or a weapon is involved, the charge is aggravated; without those factors, it remains simple assault. For example, a fight with minor injuries and no weapon is simple assault, while causing serious harm or using a gun or knife elevates it to aggravated assault. The other statements don’t fit because simple assault does not require serious injuries, and aggravated assault does involve weapons or serious injuries. They are not the same offense.