In Arizona, fraud can be a civil cause of action, a crime, or both. The Arizona law that makes it illegal to use a fraudulent scheme is Arizona Revised Statutes (ARS) Section 13-2310.

A conviction for criminal fraud in Arizona is a Class 2 felony.

If you have been charged with engaging in a criminal fraudulent scheme in Arizona, the criminal defense lawyers at AZ Defenders can represent you. Call us at (480) 456-6400 at any time, or reach us online to speak with an experienced defense attorney and schedule a free initial case evaluation.

How Does ARS…
Continue Reading Fraudulent Schemes in Arizona: ARS 13-2310

Identity theft is a criminal offense under Arizona Revised Statute 13-2008. It occurs when one person knowingly takes or uses the identity of another person or business for any unauthorized use, or to cause loss to another person, or to obtain or continue employment.

A conviction for identity theft in Arizona is a Class 4 felony that can carry a prison sentence, a six-figure fine, and the loss of certain civil rights. If you have been charged with this serious offense, call AZ Defenders at (480) 456-6400 to speak with an experienced identity theft lawyer. You can also reach us …
Continue Reading Identity Theft in Arizona: ARS 13-2008

Under Arizona law, a person commits kidnapping by knowingly restraining another person with the intent to engage in one of the specific acts listed in A.R.S. § 13-1304. Depending on the circumstances, it can be a Class 4, Class 3, or Class 2 felony.

In some circumstances, kidnapping in Arizona can also be a federal crime.

At AZ Defenders, we defend Arizona residents accused of criminal law violations, including kidnapping charges. 

This blog post covers Arizona’s kidnapping law, Arizona Revised Statutes (ARS) Section 13-1304. In it, we discuss:

• How Arizona law defines kidnapping
• How kidnapping can be a

…
Continue Reading Kidnapping in Arizona: ARS 13-1304

Under Arizona law, knowingly restraining another person can subject you to a charge of unlawful imprisonment. Unlawful imprisonment is sometimes informally referred to as “false imprisonment,” although false imprisonment more commonly refers to a related civil claim. 

Depending on the circumstances, a conviction of unlawful imprisonment can be a Class 6 felony or a Class 1 misdemeanor.

At AZ Defenders, we represent Arizona residents charged with criminal offenses, including unlawful imprisonment. In this blog post, we cover:

• How Arizona law defines unlawful imprisonment, including examples of what unlawful imprisonment is and exceptions to the law
• Legal penalties for

…
Continue Reading Unlawful Imprisonment in Arizona: ARS 13-1303

If you are charged with a crime while you are on pretrial release, bond, probation, parole, work furlough, community supervision, or, in some cases, the sentence for the new crime will be significantly more harsh than if you were not on probation.

AZ Defenders criminal defense attorneys represent people charged with many kinds of crimes in Arizona, including violations of probation and other offenses committed while on release for a prior conviction. In this blog post, we discuss Arizona’s law relating to offenses committed while released from confinement, Arizona Revised Statutes (ARS) Section 13-708.

If you are facing a…
Continue Reading Offenses Committed While on Release in Arizona: ARS 13-708

Indecent exposure is a criminal offense in Arizona that, depending on the circumstances, can be a misdemeanor or a felony-level charge. 

Depending on factors like the age of the person in front of whom the act occurs, whether it is a first-time or a repeat offense, and how many prior offenses have been committed. A conviction for indecent exposure can result in a sentence ranging from probation to fifteen years in prison in the most serious repeat-offender cases involving minors under 15 years of age.

At AZ Defenders, we represent people charged with sex-related crimes in Arizona, including…
Continue Reading Indecent Exposure in Arizona: ARS 13-1402

Armed robbery is a more serious form of the crime of robbery. It involves the possession, use, or threatened use of a deadly weapon or a simulated deadly weapon, or in some cases a dangerous instrument, during the commission of a robbery.

Armed robbery is a Class 2 felony under Arizona law, the second-most severe category of crime in the state.

In this article, we discuss the details of armed robbery in Arizona, including:

• How the law defines armed robbery
• The penalties for armed robbery
• Possible legal defenses to a charge of armed robbery

If you are facing an armed…
Continue Reading Armed Robbery in Arizona: ARS 13-1904

Under Arizona law, forgery involves altering a written document with the intent to defraud another person. 

A common example of forgery is trying to cash a check with a forged signature. Other common examples include creating fake prescriptions for medications or filling out unauthorized applications for credit using another person’s personal information.

Depending on the circumstances, a conviction for forgery is classified as a Class 4 or Class 3 felony in Arizona.

In this blog post, we examine forgery crimes in Arizona. Specifically, we cover:

• The elements of the offense
• Penalties for a forgery conviction
• Defenses to a charge of

…
Continue Reading Forgery in Arizona: ARS 13-2002

In Arizona, committing forgery can be as simple as mimicking someone else’s signature on a check and presenting it to a bank to be cashed. In other cases, though, forgery methods can be more complex, involving a variety of tools specifically designed or adapted to forge written instruments. Possessing these kinds of tools with the intent to use them to commit forgery is a crime under Arizona law.

A conviction for criminal possession of a forgery device is a Class 5 or a Class 6 felony offense in Arizona.

At AZ Defenders, we defend clients accused of forgery-related crimes, including…
Continue Reading Possession of a Forgery Device in Arizona: ARS 13-2003

Hazing is an activity that traditionally has taken place among college students in fraternity hazing cases, but it is not limited to them. Hazing became a criminal offense in Arizona effective with the 2022 enactment of Arizona Revised Statutes (ARS) Sections 13-1215 and 13-1216. A conviction for hazing under Arizona law can be a misdemeanor or a felony, depending on the physical harm done.

In this blog post, we discuss what constitutes hazing and the applicable penalties for a conviction of hazing. 

If you have been accused of participating in a hazing incident in Arizona ,AZ Defenders law firm…
Continue Reading Hazing in Arizona: ARS 13-1215

Robbery is already a serious felony offense in Arizona. When it is committed with one or more accomplices, it becomes aggravated robbery under Arizona Revised Statutes (ARS) Section 13-1903.

Aggravated robbery is a Class 3 felony in Arizona.

AZ Defenders represents people charged with robbery and aggravated robbery in Arizona. If you have been charged with aggravated robbery, call us at (480) 456-6400 or contact us online to talk with an experienced Arizona criminal defense lawyer.

How Arizona Law Defines Aggravated Robbery

ARS 13-1903 is a short statute. Here it is in full:

Aggravated robbery; classification

A. A person…
Continue Reading Aggravated Robbery in Arizona: ARS 13-1903

Under Arizona law, robbery can take different forms, including armed robbery and aggravated robbery. In this post, we focus on the basic offense of robbery, as it is defined under Arizona Revised Statutes Section 13-1902.

While theft and robbery involve taking someone else’s property without that person’s permission, an important difference between these two offenses is that robbery involves taking something from the victim directly in their presence with some kind of threat or force to coerce someone to surrender property.

If you have been accused of any kind of robbery charges in Arizona, call AZ Defenders at (480) …
Continue Reading Robbery in Arizona: ARS 13-1902

In Arizona, trafficking in stolen property means knowingly or recklessly selling, transferring, distributing, dispensing, or otherwise disposing of stolen property. Trafficking in stolen property includes buying, receiving, possessing, or obtaining control of stolen property with the intent to sell, transfer, distribute, dispense, or otherwise dispose of the property.

The Arizona law that makes trafficking in stolen goods illegal is Arizona Revised Statutes (ARS) Section 13-2307. Depending on the circumstances, a conviction under this law is a Class 3 felony or a Class 2 felony.

If you have been charged with trafficking in stolen goods in Arizona, AZ Defenders…
Continue Reading Trafficking in Stolen Property in Arizona: ARS 13-2307