Criminal Defense Blog
Drunk Driving vs. Buzzed Driving
Drunk driving in Arizona has proven to be deadly for many people. The Centers for Disease Control reported that over 300 people in the state died in alcohol-related crashes in 2017, and thousands more were injured. Generally, drunk driving incidents in this state involve two types of impairment: drunk driving and buzzed…
Read MoreUnderstanding Arizona’s Open Container Law
While springtime brings pleasant weather to the Mesa area, a brutal summer is just around the corner. To stay cool behind the wheel, you may be thinking about bringing a cold beer with you. Doing so, though, is a mistake. Arizona’s Open Container Law & Penalties In Arizona, it is…
Read MoreCan Your Ignition Interlock Requirement be Extended?
If you were convicted of or pleaded guilty to driving under the influence charges in Arizona, the court may have ordered you to equip your vehicle with an ignition interlock device. Installed in any vehicle you own or regularly operate, such devices require you to provide a breath sample before…
Read MoreWhat should I know about license suspension revocation?
Certain driving offenses, including driving under the influence of alcohol, entail a license revocation period. During this period, you will be prohibited from operating a vehicle until enough time has elapsed. You will also be required to take certain steps to reinstate your license, as explained here. How to have your…
Read MoreThe facts about field sobriety tests
When a Maricopa County sheriff’s deputy or Mesa police officer pulls over a driver on suspicion of drinking and driving, their goal is to gather as much evidence as possible against the driver to justify an arrest for DUI. Whatever else they might tell you, that is the purpose of…
Read MoreWrong-way driver charged with DUI
A 28-year-old woman who allegedly drove the wrong way on an Arizona freeway and almost struck a police vehicle on the night of May 12 has been charged with drunk driving and endangerment. Initial media reports do not indicate if she has been released from custody. Toxicology tests performed after…
Read MoreExtreme or aggravated DUI requires installation of an IID
Driving under the influence of alcohol, or DUI, is a serious charge in the state of Arizona. It is even more serious if the offense is either extreme or aggravated DUI. These are categories that bring heavy penalties including installation of an ignition interlock device that must remain in your…
Read MoreWhat you should know about bad plea deals
Sometimes a defendant will opt for a plea bargain instead of going before a judge for a trial. In a plea bargain, the alleged offender pleads guilty and thus receives a lesser sentence than he or she would have received if convicted at trial. There are several issues with this…
Read MoreWhy Might a Criminal Conviction be Appealed?
Being convicted of a crime is a serious legal matter. It can mean that a Mesa resident will be separated from their family in order to serve a sentence of incarceration or that they may be required to meet other conditions of their sentencing. While some individuals choose to serve…
Read MoreThe appellate courts of Arizona
When a prosecutor in Arizona files criminal charges against a person in the courts of the state, the matter, if it goes to trial, will be heard in the superior court of the jurisdiction where the prosecutor filed the charges. If the matter ends and the non-prevailing party believes that…
Read MoreSupreme Court will rule on double prosecution
The U.S. Constitution’s “double jeopardy clause” prohibits the prosecution of a defendant twice for the same crime. But, state and federal governments often prosecute a person for the same underlying crime under their own laws. In a case that may greatly impact criminal appeals and prosecutions, the U.S. Supreme Court heard argument earlier this…
Read MoreThe government may force phone decryption
The Fifth Amendment protects individuals from being forced to be a witness against themselves. This right, and the rights against unlawful search and seizure, are facing challenges in the digital age. Court cases have complicated the issue of whether the government can force decryption of an electronic device. This can be…
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