Lake Havasu Felony Lawyer

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If you are facing felony charges in Lake Havasu City, you need a defense lawyer who knows the local courts. Matthew Lopez Law has defended hundreds of cases in Mohave County. Call for a free consultation.

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Lake Havasu Felony Lawyer — What You Need to Know

Felony charges are the most serious criminal charges in Arizona. A conviction means prison time, loss of voting rights, loss of gun rights, and a permanent felony record that follows you for life.

If you have been arrested for a felony in Lake Havasu—whether it is aggravated assault, burglary, drug trafficking, or any other serious charge—you need an experienced criminal defense lawyer who knows how to fight felony cases.

Matthew Lopez Law has been defending felony cases in Arizona for over 16 years. We know how to challenge the prosecution’s evidence, negotiate with prosecutors, and take cases to trial when necessary.

Call us 24/7 for a free consultation. We offer affordable payment plans, and we can start your case with very little money down.

Felony Classes in Arizona

In Arizona, crimes are classified as felonies or misdemeanors.

Felonies are the more serious category, and they are divided into six classes:

• Class 1 felony: Murder (most serious)
• Class 2 felony: Sexual assault, armed robbery, drug trafficking
• Class 3 felony: Aggravated assault, burglary
• Class 4 felony: Drug possession, theft
• Class 5 felony: Forgery, credit card fraud
• Class 6 felony: DUI with a child in the car, theft (least serious)

All felonies carry potential prison time, even for first-time offenders.

Penalties for Felony Convictions in Arizona

The penalties for felony convictions depend on the class of felony and your criminal history.

First-Time Offenders (Non-Dangerous, Non-Repetitive)

• Class 2: Presumptive sentence 5 years (range: 3 to 12.5 years)
• Class 3: Presumptive sentence 3.5 years (range: 2 to 8.75 years)
• Class 4: Presumptive sentence 2.5 years (range: 1 to 3.75 years)
• Class 5: Presumptive sentence 1.5 years (range: 0.5 to 2.5 years)
• Class 6: Presumptive sentence 1 year (range: 0.33 to 2 years)

Repeat Offenders

If you have prior felony convictions, the penalties increase significantly.

Dangerous Offenses

If the felony involved the use of a deadly weapon or dangerous instrument, or if it resulted in serious physical injury, the penalties are much higher.

For example, a class 3 dangerous felony carries a presumptive sentence of 7.5 years in prison, with a range of 5 to 15 years.

Dangerous Crimes Against Children (DCAC)

Certain crimes involving children carry mandatory prison sentences under DCAC sentencing.

These include:

• Sexual conduct with a minor
• Child molestation
• Sexual exploitation of a minor

DCAC sentences are harsher than regular felony sentences, and there is no eligibility for probation.

Felony Charges We Defend in Lake Havasu

Aggravated Assault (ARS 13-1204)

Aggravated assault is a felony version of assault.

You can be charged with aggravated assault if:

• You caused serious physical injury
• You used a deadly weapon or dangerous instrument
• You assaulted a police officer, firefighter, or other protected person
• You assaulted someone while they were restrained

Aggravated assault is usually a class 3 felony, but it can be a class 2 felony if serious physical injury was caused.

Burglary (ARS 13-1507, 13-1508)

Burglary involves entering or remaining in a structure with the intent to commit a theft or felony.

• Second-degree burglary (non-residential): Class 3 felony
• First-degree burglary (residential): Class 2 felony

Theft (ARS 13-1802)

Theft becomes a felony when the value of the property stolen exceeds $1,000.

• Property worth $1,000 to $2,000: Class 6 felony
• Property worth $2,000 to $3,000: Class 5 felony
• Property worth $3,000 to $4,000: Class 4 felony
• Property worth $4,000 to $25,000: Class 3 felony
• Property worth $25,000 or more: Class 2 felony

Drug Trafficking (ARS 13-3405, 13-3407, 13-3408)

Drug trafficking charges are filed when someone is caught with large amounts of drugs or evidence of distribution.

Trafficking is a class 2 felony with mandatory prison time.

Weapons Charges (ARS 13-3102)

It is a felony to possess a firearm if you:

• Are a prohibited possessor (prior felony conviction)
• Were convicted of domestic violence
• Are subject to a protective order

This is called prohibited possessor and is a class 4 felony.

Forgery and Fraud (ARS 13-2002, 13-2310)

Forgery, identity theft, and credit card fraud are all felonies in Arizona.

Penalties depend on the amount of money involved and whether the crime was committed against a vulnerable adult.

How Felony Cases Work in Arizona

Felony cases are more complex than misdemeanor cases.

They involve:

Grand Jury or Preliminary Hearing

After you are arrested for a felony, prosecutors can either:

• Present the case to a grand jury, which decides whether to indict you, or
• File charges and schedule a preliminary hearing, where a judge decides whether there is probable cause to proceed

Arraignment

At arraignment, you are formally charged and asked to enter a plea (guilty, not guilty, or no contest).

Pretrial Conferences

Your lawyer and the prosecutor will have multiple pretrial conferences to discuss plea deals, exchange evidence, and negotiate.

Trial

If no plea deal is reached, the case goes to trial.

Felony trials are heard by a jury of 8 people (12 for class 1 or 2 felonies).

Defenses to Felony Charges

We defend felony cases by challenging every part of the prosecution’s case.

Lack of Evidence

Prosecutors have the burden of proving every element of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt.

If they do not have enough evidence, we argue for dismissal.

Illegal Search and Seizure

If police searched your home, car, or phone without a valid warrant or probable cause, any evidence they found can be suppressed.

Self-Defense

In assault cases, we argue self-defense when you were protecting yourself from imminent harm.

Lack of Intent

Many felonies require that you intentionally or knowingly committed the crime.

If you did not have criminal intent, we argue that the elements of the crime are not met.

Mistaken Identity

If the crime involved a misidentification by a witness, we challenge the reliability of that identification.

Can I Get Probation Instead of Prison?

In some cases, first-time felony offenders can avoid prison by getting probation.

Probation allows you to serve your sentence in the community under supervision.

However, probation is not available for:

• Class 2 or 3 dangerous offenses
• Dangerous crimes against children
• Some drug trafficking charges

If you are eligible for probation, we fight to get you probation instead of prison.

What to Do If You Are Arrested for a Felony

If you are arrested for a felony in Lake Havasu, the first thing you should do is remain silent.

Do not:

• Answer questions about what happened
• Try to explain your side of the story
• Consent to a search

Officers are gathering evidence against you. Anything you say will be used in court.

Hire a Lawyer Immediately

Felony cases move quickly.

The sooner you hire a lawyer, the more options we have to fight your case.

We can often negotiate with prosecutors to get charges reduced before the case goes to trial.

Why Choose Matthew Lopez Law for Your Felony Case

Matthew Lopez Law has been defending felony cases in Arizona for over 16 years.

We have handled thousands of felony cases, including aggravated assault, drug trafficking, and serious sex crimes.

We Know How to Fight Felony Charges

Felony cases require aggressive defense.

We challenge the prosecution’s evidence, file motions to suppress illegal evidence, and take cases to trial when necessary.

We Offer Affordable Payment Plans

We know that a felony arrest is already expensive—bail, impound fees, lost wages.

We do not want cost to be the reason you do not get the defense you deserve.

We offer affordable payment plans, and we can start your case with very little money down.

We Are Available 24/7

Felony arrests do not just happen during business hours.

If you were arrested in Lake Havasu this weekend, call us now. We will review your case, answer your questions, and start building your defense immediately.

Call Matthew Lopez Law for a free consultation. We defend felony charges throughout Lake Havasu and Mohave County. Affordable payment plans available. Call 24/7.

Maricopa County Superior Court

• Address 201 W Jefferson St, Phoenix, AZ 85003
• Hours Mon–Fri, 8 AM – 5:00 PM
• Phone 602-506-3204

La Paz County Superior Court

• Address 1316 KoFA Ave., Suite 607, Parker, AZ 85344
• Hours Mon–Fri, 8 AM – 5:00 PM
• Phone (928) 669-6131

Apache Junction Justice Court

• Address Roy Hudson Complex, 575 N Idaho Rd, Apache Junction, AZ 85119
• Hours Mon–Fri, 8 AM – 5:00 PM
• Phone 480-982-2921

Lake Havasu County Courthouse

• Address 1695 Mesquite Ave, UNIT 214 Lake Havasu City, AZ 86403
• Hours Mon–Fri, 7:30 AM – 4:00 PM
• Phone928-714-7032