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Your Show Low Criminal Defense Attorney
Understanding an Arizona criminal charge starts with a real distinction: most offenses have a filing deadline tied to their severity, but homicide and certain serious violent felonies carry no time limit whatsoever. Arizona’s DUI framework is its own, notably stricter, subject entirely, covered separately further down this page.
What an Arizona Criminal Charge Involves
An Arizona criminal record, once it exists, can be addressed later through the state’s record-sealing process for many types of cases, though eligibility and waiting periods vary by offense class.
When Arizona Can and Can't File Charges
Under A.R.S. Section 13-107(B), most felonies (class 2 through 6) have to be charged within seven years, misdemeanors within one year, and petty offenses within six months. There’s no time limit whatsoever for homicide and certain other serious violent felonies under A.R.S. Section 13-107(A), an exception that exists specifically because of how serious those offenses are.
The Right To An Attorney, Born In Arizona
Ernesto Miranda’s 1963 Phoenix arrest and the U.S. Supreme Court’s 1966 ruling in his case, Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436, is the reason every U.S. police department now has to read a suspect their rights. An attorney reviewing an Arizona case will often look closely at exactly when and how these warnings were given, since the timing and wording can matter as much as whether they were given at all.
Arizona's Initial Appearance and Release Rules
Ariz. R. Crim. P. 4.1(a) sets a real outer limit on how long someone can be held before seeing a magistrate: without unnecessary delay, and release is generally required past 24 hours. Ariz. R. Crim. P. 7 governs the conditions attached to release, and violating them carries real consequences: a new arrest warrant, a separate failure-to-appear charge, and losing any bail already posted.
Arizona's Strict DUI Laws
Arizona doesn’t treat every DUI the same: A.R.S. Section 28-1381 covers standard DUI, Section 28-1382 covers extreme DUI at 0.15 BAC or above, and Section 28-1383 elevates certain DUIs, including a third within 84 months, to a felony. An ignition interlock device requirement typically follows any Arizona extreme DUI conviction under A.R.S. Section 28-1382, adding a real ongoing cost and inconvenience beyond the jail term itself.
Show Low's Court System
Show Low operates its own police department, Municipal Court, and Justice Court, the latter of which also handles felony initial appearances and preliminary hearings for the surrounding Navajo County area before a case moves to Superior Court. The Superior Court of Arizona in Navajo County handles felony cases connected to Show Low, under the same statewide rules that apply throughout Arizona.
Speak With a Show Low Criminal Defense Attorney
Given the deadlines and initial-appearance rules involved, connecting with an attorney early in Show Low gives more time to build a real defense before key decisions get made. Complete the form here to speak with a criminal defense attorney about what your case may involve.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Do the filing deadlines change based on what I'm charged with?
Yes, significantly: A.R.S. Section 13-107 ties the deadline directly to offense severity, from six months up to seven years, or no deadline at all for the most serious offenses. These deadlines govern when the state can FILE charges, not how long a case can take to resolve once it’s filed.
Will I automatically be released on bail in Arizona?
No, it’s not automatic; release and bail conditions under Ariz. R. Crim. P. 7 depend on the offense’s severity, criminal history, danger to the community, and flight risk. Bail amounts and conditions can differ significantly between a misdemeanor and a felony charge.
Are all Arizona DUI charges treated the same?
No: Arizona separates standard DUI (A.R.S. Section 28-1381), extreme DUI at 0.15 BAC or higher (Section 28-1382), and aggravated DUI, a felony (Section 28-1383), each with different penalties. Aggravated DUI is prosecuted in Superior Court as a felony, not in the lower courts that typically handle standard DUI.
Where would my Show Low criminal case be filed?
Felony cases connected to Show Low are generally filed in the Superior Court of Arizona in Navajo County, which has exclusive original jurisdiction over felonies.
Speak With a Show Low Criminal Defense Attorney
Given the deadlines and initial-appearance rules involved, connecting with an attorney early in Show Low gives more time to build a real defense before key decisions get made. Complete the form here to speak with a criminal defense attorney about what your case may involve.
