CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY
IN SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA

According to the Arizona Department of Public Safety, there were over 129,000 total arrests in Maricopa County, Arizona, in 2019. In the state of Arizona, criminal offenses such as arson, assault, domestic violence, DUI, murder, theft, and drug crimes are often punished severely. If you have been arrested and charged with a criminal offense, it is imperative that you hire an aggressive Arizona criminal defense attorney to help build a strong defense.

Here at my firm, The Law Office Of William L. Morris, I have a proven track record for providing comprehensive legal representation that gets results. I am committed to treating my clients with the utmost dignity and respect as I work to protect their rights and fight for their freedom. As your legal counsel, I will analyze all the facts of your case, conduct an in-depth investigation, and outline a strong legal defense aimed at pursuing the best possible outcome for your case. I will fight vigorously to defend your rights, refute the charges against you, and make sure that you receive fair treatment at every stage of the legal process.

I’m also proud to serve clients in Scottsdale, Arizona, and the surrounding areas of Phoenix, Tempe, Mesa, Chandler, Peoria, and Glendale, Arizona — so call today to get the reliable legal counsel you need and deserve.

GET THE HELP YOU NEED – DAY OR NIGHT, AVAILABLE 24/7: (480) 372-8887

CRIMINAL CHARGES IN ARIZONA

When a defendant is charged with an offense in Arizona, that crime is classified as either a misdemeanor or a felony. The difference between these two classifications is very important when it comes to understanding the consequences for each offense,

Misdemeanor Crimes

Misdemeanor crimes are considered to be less severe than felony crimes. Some common examples of misdemeanor crimes include theft under $1,000, misdemeanor assault, domestic violence, marijuana possession, possession of drug paraphernalia and misdemeanor traffic offenses.

When it comes to the penalties that you may face, it often depends on the severity of each offense. With that being said, misdemeanor crimes are typically categorized into four separate classes:

• Class 1 Misdemeanor: Punishable by up to six months in jail, a maximum fine of $2500, or both.
• Class 2 Misdemeanor: Punishable by up to four months in jail, a maximum fine of $750, or both.
• Class 3 Misdemeanor: Punishable by up to 30 days in jail, a maximum fine of $500, or both.
• Petty Misdemeanor: Punishable by a maximum fine of $300 with no jail time.

Felony Crimes

Felonies are generally more serious than misdemeanors and often carry much more severe punishments along with potentially other devastating consequences. Examples of felony crimes include aggravated DUI, aggravated assault, theft over $1,000, fraud, taking the identity of another, burglary, to name just a few.

As with misdemeanor crimes, when it comes to assessing the possible penalties that you may face for felony crimes, the punishment often depends on the severity of the crime committed and ones past criminal history. With that in mind, felony crimes are categorized into six distinct classes and carry the following possible prison sentences (first-time offenders only):

• Class 1 Felony: Punishable by 25 years to life in prison. One may also be sentenced to the death penalty in Arizona for first-degree murder.
• Class 2 Felony: Punishable by up to 12.5 years in prison, minimum of 3 years in prison with a presumptive term being 5 years in prison.
• Class 3 Felony: Punishable by up to 8.75 years in prison, minimum of 2 years in prison with a presumptive term being 3.5 years in prison.
• Class 4 Felony: Punishable by up to 3.75 years in prison, minimum of 1 year in prison with a presumptive term being 2.5 years in prison.
• Class 5 Felony: Punishable by up to 2.5 years in prison, minimum of 0.5 years in prison with a presumptive term being 1.5 years in prison.
• Class 6 Felony: Punishable by up to 2 years in prison, minimum of 0.33 years in prison with a presumptive term being 1 year in prison.

CHARGES THAT I DEFEND

Here at my firm, The Law Office Of William L. Morris, I have devoted my entire career to providing comprehensive legal guidance and aggressive representation to clients facing a wide range of criminal charges, including, but not limited to:

Assault

In Arizona a person may be charged with assault by intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly causing any physical injury to another person or placing the person in reasonable fear of imminent harm.

Domestic Violence

Under Arizona law, domestic violence involves any crime where:

1. The relationship between the victim and the defendant is one of marriage or former marriage or of persons residing or having resided in the same household.

2. The victim and the defendant have a child in common.

3. The victim or the defendant is pregnant by the other party.

4. The victim is related to the defendant or the defendant’s spouse by blood or court order as a parent, grandparent, child, grandchild, brother or sister or by marriage as a parent-in-law, grandparent-in-law, stepparent, step-grandparent, stepchild, step-grandchild, brother-in-law or sister-in-law.

5. The victim is a child who resides or has resided in the same household as the defendant and is related by blood to a former spouse of the defendant or to a person who resides or who has resided in the same household as the defendant.

6. The relationship between the victim and the defendant is currently or was previously a romantic or sexual relationship. The following factors may be considered in determining whether the relationship between the victim and the defendant is currently or was previously a romantic or sexual relationship:

(a) The type of relationship.

(b) The length of the relationship.

(c) The frequency of the interaction between the victim and the defendant.

(d) If the relationship has terminated, the length of time since the termination.

Drug Crimes

In Arizona, it is a crime to knowingly possess or use illegal drugs and/or prescription drugs without a valid prescription. Drug crimes include the possession, use, sale, trafficking, distribution, manufacturing, importation, transportation, cultivation, administration, and/or acquisition of illegal drugs.

DUI Charges

A person may be facing DUI charges in Arizona for being in actual physical control of a motor vehicle while impaired by alcohol and/or drugs.

Juvenile Crimes

Juvenile crimes are offenses committed by minors and are often treated differently from adults. In Arizona, such offenses are referred to as delinquent acts, but can still come with significant consequences, depending on the offense.

Theft

A person commits theft in Arizona if, without lawful authority, the person knowingly:

1. Controls property of another with the intent to deprive the other person of such property; or

2. Converts for an unauthorized term or use services or property of another entrusted to the defendant or placed in the defendant’s possession for a limited, authorized term or use; or

3. Obtains services or property of another by means of any material misrepresentation with intent to deprive the other person of such property or services; or

4. Comes into control of lost, mislaid or misdelivered property of another under circumstances providing means of inquiry as to the true owner and appropriates such property to the person’s own or another’s use without reasonable efforts to notify the true owner; or

5. Controls property of another knowing or having reason to know that the property was stolen; or

6. Obtains services known to the defendant to be available only for compensation without paying or an agreement to pay the compensation or diverts another’s services to the person’s own or another’s benefit without authority to do so; or

7. Controls the ferrous metal or nonferrous metal of another with the intent to deprive the other person of the metal; or

8. Controls the ferrous metal or nonferrous metal of another knowing or having reason to know that the metal was stolen; or

9. Purchases within the scope of the ordinary course of business the ferrous metal or nonferrous metal of another person knowing that the metal was stolen.

White Collar Crimes

White-collar crime is a legal term used to describe a number of different offenses committed through deceit, fraud, and with the intent of financial gain. Examples of white-collar crimes in Arizona include securities fraud, embezzlement, mortgage fraud, and money laundering.

It’s important to remember that this is not a comprehensive list, as my law firm has defended clients facing a number of other criminal charges. If you are under investigation for a criminal offense, contact me at The Law Office Of William L. Morris today to review and investigate your case.

GET THE HELP YOU NEED – DAY OR NIGHT, AVAILABLE 24/7: (480) 372-8887

CHOOSE AN EXPERIENCED ARIZONA CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY

When facing criminal charges, the outcome of your case can have significant long-term effects on your personal and professional future. Since public defenders are often overloaded with cases, they often are unable to dedicate the necessary time and attention that your case needs. This often results in clients being pressured to settle for unfavorable plea deals that are often detrimental to their future and well-being. Therefore, if you’re facing criminal charges in Arizona, it is critical to retain a knowledgeable criminal defense attorney who can protect your rights and outline an effective defense strategy for your case.

When you choose to work with my firm, you’ll have an attorney on your side who is dedicated to aggressively defending clients facing criminal charges. As your attorney, I will evaluate and investigate all the surrounding facts of your case, help you understand all of your available legal options, and outline an effective defense strategy aimed at achieving the best possible outcome for your case — whether that’s through getting your charges reduced, proceeding to trial on the merits (or lack thereof), or even getting the charge(s) dropped altogether. Regardless of the outcome, I will fight vigorously to protect your rights at every phase of the legal process. So if you or someone you know is facing criminal charges, call or reach out to my firm, The Law Office Of William L. Morris, today to receive the strong legal guidance and support you deserve.