Arizona, being a border state, attracts many different state and federal law enforcement agencies. These agencies are specially trained to obtain arrests and convictions for those manufacturing, transporting and selling drugs.
Prison sentences for felony drug offenses in Arizona can be substantial, even for first offenses. Some drug convictions, even for a small, barely usable amounts of some scheduled drugs can bring a mandatory minimum of 5 flat (no early out or “good time” credit) years in the Arizona State Prison.
Arizona prosecutors have wide discretion in how cases are filed and charged. They are aggressive in charging drug cases, usually adding as many charges from the same facts as possible in order to scare the defendant into pleading guilty to avoid consecutive (stacking) sentences. If you are arrested for any drug offense, you need an experienced trial lawyer who knows how to file the correct motions to suppress evidence, or get a confession rendered inadmissible.
The drug laws—as well as the sentencing laws—are confusing and complicated. Certain drugs are given special treatment as are prescription medications, which may carry unique sentencing enhancements. Whether dangerous drugs, narcotic drugs, and prescription-only drugs, there are a number of technical defenses as well as defenses based on search and seizure laws that can help you avoid the a terrible severity of Arizona’s drug sentencing laws . You need an attorney who knows how to position your defenses and what arguments to make to get the best possible result.
Violent crimes are also very harshly punished in Arizona, particularly if the violent offender has prior convictions, or has committed the new offense while on probation, or if more than one “victim” is involved.
In my career I have handled all sorts of violent offenses— murder, aggravated assault, robbery, harassment, gun crimes, and others. If your lawyer does not know the law, the way prosecutors work these cases or how to pick apart law enforcement’s case, years behind bars can be the consequence.
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