Arizona Criminal Laws

Field sobriety tests refer to those tests the officers do during the course of a DUI investigation or driving under the influence investigation. They usually take place outside the suspect’s car. They involve the classic walk and turn while walking heel to toe, the one legged stand where you stand on one leg for a period of time, the touching your nose while your eyes are closed and those type of classic tests that we all have heard about before, as far as testing for sobriety or not. These tests are designed to give the officer evidence of your impairment by reason of alcohol of your ability to drive. These tests can be biased depending on your physical capabilities. You might not be able to perform certain parts of this test, like the one leg stand, depending on what your physical condition is. If you’re older or have back problems or something else that may impact your ability to actually complete the test whether or not you were impaired or you were completely sober. They’re not good indicators. You are not required to take these tests. The courts have held you are not required to take these tests. You could refuse and can refuse to take these tests with no ramifications either to your driver’s license or to your court case if you are charged with DUI. If you or a loved one have been charged with DUI, please give me a call at (480) 994-8824 or email me.

By: Attorney Max Hanson

The range of penalties for intent to sell marijuana can range from everything down to probation, all the way up to 12-1/2 years in prison, plus up to $150,000 in fines, plus the special assessment on selling marijuana cases, which is $750, or three times the value of the drugs. Which if were talking about a large amount of marijuana, could be substantial, as opposed to what you’re already paying in fines and assessments. Additionally, you’re looking at at least 240 hours of community service for a conviction of this charge and the impact it can have to your future employment. If you or a loved one have been charged with a possession of marijuana with intent to sell, please give me a call at (480) 994-8824 or email me.

If you would like to discuss an intent to sell marijuana charge with a Scottsdale criminal attorney, please visit a profile page and complete a contact form.

By: Max Hanson

If you are convicted of aggravated assault, this is a serious felony offense that you will not be eligible for probation upon conviction. You will face a significant prison term that can range anywhere between three to twenty-one years in prison. You will also face the possibility of paying fines up to $150,000 and it will have lasting significant impact on you, even upon release from prison as to your right to vote, as to your right to possess or use firearms and as to any future employment. Your employment will be limited by the fact that you have been convicted of a serious and dangerous felony offense. If you or a loved one are facing charges of aggravated assault or have been convicted of charges of aggravated assault and need help, please feel free to contact me at (480) 994-8824 or email me.

By: Attorney Max Hanson

Domestic Violence in Phoenix

What are some consequences for a person convicted of a domestic violence offense? Well, that’s a good question as well. At AM law, we found that some of the consequences that our clients have been facing, aside from just the conviction in itself, which can make life very difficult when you’re talking about applying for a job, even applying for loans and credit, that type of thing can come up and be a hindrance to people.

Right to Bear Arms

Specifically with domestic violence, the right to bear arms, to own a firearm or some type of weapon after having been convicted of that offense is going to be restricted. You’re not going to be able to do that and that’s obviously a concern for individuals who are concerned about their own safety in their homes and the defense of themself and their family members, if they were someone that felt a firearm was one of the ways they felt protected.

Monetary Consequences

So, that can be one of the more significant consequences for an individual in a domestic violence situation. And again, the consequences of being incarcerated, whether it be in jail or prison, depending on the level of offense are obviously very serious and there’s monetary consequences as well. Typically, domestic violence offenses come with mandatory fines; sometimes the cost of probation can be a burden for individuals.

So, these are all the things that when we are trying to negotiate a resolution in a domestic violence offense we’re trying to be considerate and conscious of those potential issues for our clients before entering into a resolution.

By: Jared Allen

Advantages of Criminal Law Practice

With that said, what in your view is the most rewarding thing about practicing criminal law. For me personally and I think for our firm, anytime you can get a client the result they want and for every case that’s going to be different. For some clients that means an acquittal after trial, for other clients it simply means the best deal they can get given their circumstances. But, when you get to that point in a case where you’ve been able to accomplish what the client wants and the client is not only happy with the result, but their relieved, their thankful, that as a criminal defense attorney is the most rewarding aspect, is knowing you’ve been able to walk hand in hand with someone through a process that is for many of our clients, something they’re experiencing for the first time and something that may be the most difficult thing they’ve ever faced. And to come through it on the other side with an outcome that they wanted, there is nothing more rewarding in the practice of law at all.

And speaking of cases, what kind of cases do you handle? At our firm, we handle a full range of criminal defense cases. Everything from speeding tickets all the way up to some of the most serious offenses you hear about on the news and everything in between. One of the areas we specialize in is DUI defense, but we also cover many other types of misdemeanors, such domestic violence offenses, violent crimes, drug offenses and all manner of felony offenses. So, we pride ourselves in being a full service criminal defense firm that can handle any type of criminal defense case that any of our clients might be facing.

By: Steven Meyerand

Criminal assault in Arizona means that you’ve been charged with either physically injuring someone or even threatening to physically injure someone if they feel their in imminent danger of harm, which means you come up to someone and you draw back with your fist or something else and they think they’re going to be punched, that’s assault under Arizona law. Additionally, you can be charged with assault if you just simply push someone, goat them, insult them, provoke them into action or provoke them into a fight, you can be charged with assault in Arizona. It’s a criminal misdemeanor offense. Maximum penalty, probation is usually available, but maximum penalty can be up to 6 months in jail, so it’s a serious offense that you need serious help with. If you’ve been charged with assault, give my office a call. Talk to one of our experienced criminal law attorneys. Our number is (480) 994-8824. Or you can contact me by my email address.

By: Attorney Max Hanson

Aggravated assault is a serious felony offense. It involves an assault under special circumstances are involving a particular person or party. Example would be, using a dangerous weapon or dangerous instrument during an assault, such as a knife or a firearm, can subject you to aggravated assault charges. Causing any sort of serious physical injury to another during an assault, such as broken bones or other disfigurement can also result in felony aggravated assault charges. In addition, simple assaults against a particular person, such as a police officer, or a firefighter, or an EMT can result in aggravated assault felony charges. Felony charges are serious business. It can impact your ability to get a job. It can impact your ability to have a firearm. It can also impact your ability to vote. If you or a family member have been charged with a serious felony aggravated assault, you need legal help today. Feel free to give me a call at (480) 994-8824 or you can contact me at my email.

If you’ve been charged with aggravated assault in Arizona, view a profile and complete a contact form.

By: Attorney Max Hanson

What made you decide to switch from being a prosecutor to becoming a defense attorney?

When I left the prosecutor’s office, I had been a prosecutor for almost (6) six years and during that time I had handled every type of case from a low-level misdemeanor offense all the way up to very serious high-level felony offenses. And during my time as a prosecutor, I found myself to be interested in the practice of criminal defense law from the standpoint of working with defendants. Really getting a chance to advocate for the person who stands before the court accused of that crime and I was fortunate enough to work with some excellent criminal defense attorneys during that time, who really demonstrated for me at least the amount you can accomplish for a client who’s facing such a tough situation. So when the opportunity presented itself to begin our firm, it was just natural for both of us to move into the area of criminal defense, since it allowed us to utilize all of the skills, techniques that we had learned as prosecutors, however, to put them to use for individuals who have been charged for these crimes and really deal with the personal aspect of the criminal justice system.

By: Steven Meyerand

DUI Litigation Expertise

Steve, at AM Law, what is your experience in handling DUI cases? DUI cases are some of the most common cases that come up in the world of criminal defense. For me personally, while I was a prosecutor I handled hundreds of misdemeanor DUIs as a trial attorney and I finished my career at the Maricopa County attorneys office as a member of their vehicular crimes bureau, where my practice was dedicated solely to cases involving DUIs, or manslaughters, or homicides that involved an impaired driver. So, for me personally, I’ve handled thousands of cases involving DUIs and have focused my training and my practice as a prosecutor in handling those types of cases.

By: Steven Meyerand