Which element best defines aggravated assault?

• A. A person who inflicts serious bodily injury upon another person or uses a deadly weapon
• B. A person who harms only themselves
• C. A person who commits theft by force
• D. A person who communicates threats to a public official

Answer: (A)

Aggravated assault is an enhanced form of assault that occurs when the act involves either causing serious bodily injury to another person or using a deadly weapon during the assault. Serious bodily injury means an injury that creates a substantial risk of death, permanent disfigurement, or protracted loss or impairment of a body part or function. A deadly weapon is any instrument that is capable of causing death or serious bodily harm in the manner used.

The option described aligns with these elements because it covers inflicting serious bodily injury or using a deadly weapon, which elevates the offense to aggravated assault. The other scenarios describe different crimes: harming only oneself isn’t an assault on another person; theft by force is robbery; and making threats to a public official is a separate offense (such as a threat) rather than aggravated assault.