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Charged with a Violent Crime in Arizona?
Your Freedom Can't Wait.
A violent crime charge can put your freedom, reputation, and future at risk. Whether you are being investigated or have already been arrested, what you do next matters. Get clear answers about your options and start building your defense now.
A violent crime charge in Arizona is among the most serious situations a person can face in the criminal justice system. Most violent offenses are felonies. Many carry mandatory prison sentences with no possibility of probation, suspended sentences, or early release. A conviction does not just mean years in prison — it means the permanent loss of voting rights, firearm rights, and the ability to find housing and employment after you are released.
Matthew Lopez Law defends clients charged with violent crimes throughout Arizona. Our team includes former prosecutors who have handled these cases from both sides. We know how the state builds violent crime cases — and we know how to dismantle them. If you or someone you love has been charged with a violent offense, call us 24/7 for a free consultation. We offer affordable payment plans and can start your defense with very little money down.
Arizona does not have a single “violent crimes” statute. Instead, violent offenses are spread across ARS Title 13, primarily in Chapter 11 (Homicide), Chapter 12 (Assault and Related Offenses), Chapter 13 (Kidnapping), and Chapter 19 (Robbery). What unites them is the severity of their classification and the sentencing framework the state applies.
Many violent crimes in Arizona carry an additional designation as “dangerous offenses” under ARS 13-105. A dangerous offense is one that involves the discharge, use, or threatening exhibition of a deadly weapon or dangerous instrument, or that results in serious physical injury. This designation matters enormously at sentencing: a dangerous offense allegation eliminates the option for probation and mandates prison time within a specific — and elevated — sentencing range.
Arizona also has enhanced sentencing for repeat violent offenders and for offenses committed against certain categories of victims, including law enforcement officers, minors, and elderly or vulnerable adults.
First Degree Murder (ARS 13-1105) — Class 1 Felony
First degree murder is the most serious charge in Arizona law. It requires proof that the defendant intentionally or knowingly caused the death of another person with premeditation — or caused a death in the course of certain predicate felonies (felony murder). A conviction carries life in prison or, in cases where aggravating factors are present, the death penalty. There is no parole eligibility for life sentences in Arizona.
Second Degree Murder (ARS 13-1104) — Class 1 Felony
Second degree murder covers intentional killings without premeditation and deaths caused by conduct that creates a grave risk and demonstrates extreme indifference to human life. The sentencing range runs from 10 to 25 years for a first offense, with no possibility of suspension or probation.
Manslaughter (ARS 13-1103) — Class 2 Felony
Manslaughter covers reckless homicide, deaths caused in the heat of passion upon adequate provocation, and deaths resulting from assisting a suicide. As a Class 2 felony, a first offense carries a presumptive sentence of 5 years in prison, with a range of 3 to 12.5 years. See our dedicated Arizona Manslaughter Lawyer page.
Negligent Homicide (ARS 13-1102) — Class 4 Felony
Negligent homicide involves a death caused by criminal negligence — a failure to perceive a substantial and unjustifiable risk that a reasonable person would have recognized. It is the least severe homicide offense in Arizona, but a Class 4 felony still carries up to 3.75 years in prison for a first offense.
Assault (ARS 13-1203) — Class 1, 2, or 3 Misdemeanor
Misdemeanor assault covers intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly causing physical injury to another person; intentionally placing another in reasonable apprehension of imminent physical injury; and knowingly touching another with the intent to injure, insult, or provoke. Despite being a misdemeanor, assault convictions appear on public criminal records and can affect employment, professional licensing, and housing applications.
Aggravated Assault (ARS 13-1204) — Class 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 Felony
Assault becomes a felony when it involves serious physical injury, a deadly weapon, certain categories of victims (law enforcement, teachers, healthcare workers), or is committed in a victim’s home. The felony class depends on the specific circumstances, ranging from a Class 6 felony for minor aggravating factors to a Class 2 felony when a deadly weapon is used. Many aggravated assault charges carry the dangerous offense designation, which mandates prison and eliminates probation. See our Arizona Assault & Aggravated Assault Lawyer page.
Threatening and Intimidating (ARS 13-1202) — Class 1 Misdemeanor or Class 3 or 6 Felony
A person can be charged with threatening and intimidating in Arizona for making verbal or physical threats — even if no contact occurs and even if there was never any intent to carry out the threat. The charge escalates to a felony when the threat is made in furtherance of a gang, when a deadly weapon is involved, or when the defendant has a prior threatening conviction. See our Arizona Threatening & Intimidating Lawyer page.
Endangerment (ARS 13-1201) — Class 1 Misdemeanor or Class 6 Felony
Endangerment is one of the broadest and most discretionary charges in Arizona law. Officers can charge endangerment any time they believe a person’s conduct created a substantial risk of imminent death or physical injury to another — even without any actual contact or injury. When the conduct creates a risk of death, it becomes a felony. See our Arizona Endangerment Lawyer page.
Robbery (ARS 13-1902) — Class 4 Felony
Robbery is the taking of property from another person against their will using force or threats. It requires direct confrontation with the victim — unlike burglary or theft, which do not. A first-offense robbery conviction carries a presumptive sentence of 2.5 years in prison.
Aggravated Robbery (ARS 13-1903) — Class 3 Felony
Robbery becomes aggravated when it is committed with an accomplice. The presence of a second person transforms the charge to a Class 3 felony, with a presumptive sentence of 3.5 years for a first offense.
Armed Robbery (ARS 13-1904) — Class 2 Felony
Armed robbery involves the use or threatened use of a deadly weapon or dangerous instrument during a robbery. It is almost always charged as a dangerous offense, which means mandatory prison time and no probation eligibility. A first-offense presumptive sentence is 5 years, with a range up to 12.5 years. See our Arizona Armed Robbery Lawyer page.
Kidnapping (ARS 13-1304) — Class 2, 3, or 4 Felony
Arizona’s kidnapping statute is broad. It covers knowingly restraining another person with the intent to hold them for ransom, use them as a shield, inflict physical injury, or engage in sexual offenses — but it also covers restraining a person to facilitate a felony or to interfere with government functions. The charge does not require that the victim be moved any significant distance. Depending on the circumstances, kidnapping can be a Class 2 felony with mandatory prison. See our Arizona Kidnapping Lawyer page.
Unlawful Imprisonment (ARS 13-1303) — Class 6 Felony
Unlawful imprisonment is the lesser restraint offense — knowingly restraining another person without legal authority. While lower in severity than kidnapping, it is still a felony that carries up to 2 years in prison and a permanent criminal record.
Drive-By Shooting (ARS 13-1209) — Class 2 Felony
Intentionally discharging a weapon from a motor vehicle at a person, another vehicle, an occupied structure, or an occupied residence is a Class 2 felony with mandatory prison time. This charge also carries the dangerous offense designation in virtually all cases.
Discharging a Firearm at a Structure (ARS 13-1211) — Class 3 Felony
Intentionally discharging a firearm at a residential structure — whether occupied or not — is a Class 3 felony, presumptively treated as a dangerous offense. Arizona law takes this charge seriously, regardless of whether anyone was inside the structure at the time.
Sentencing for violent felonies in Arizona operates under rules that are significantly harsher than those in most states. There are several factors that directly affect how much time a defendant faces:
If a violent charge is designated a dangerous offense under ARS 13-105, the judge has no discretion to grant probation, a suspended sentence, or a deferred prosecution arrangement. Prison is mandatory, and the sentencing range itself is elevated above standard felony ranges.
Under ARS 13-703, prior felony convictions dramatically increase the sentencing range. A second violent felony offense within a specified time period triggers an elevated range. A third felony conviction involving violence can trigger life-equivalent sentences depending on the charge.
Arizona abolished traditional parole. Defendants sentenced to prison must serve the full term imposed — minus earned release credits — before becoming eligible for release. For certain violent offenses, earned release credits are also limited or eliminated.
When multiple violent charges arise from the same incident — for example, robbery and aggravated assault — the court has discretion to run sentences consecutively rather than concurrently, which multiplies the time actually served.
Every violent crime case turns on specific facts, evidence, and legal issues. The defenses available depend heavily on what the charge actually requires the state to prove. Common defense approaches include:
Arizona has broad self-defense statutes under ARS 13-404 and ARS 13-406. A person is justified in using physical force — including deadly force in appropriate circumstances — to protect themselves or another person from imminent unlawful physical force. When the facts support a self-defense claim, it can result in a complete acquittal. Arizona does not require a person to retreat before defending themselves.
Violent crime prosecutions depend heavily on witness testimony, physical evidence, surveillance footage, and forensic analysis. We investigate every source of evidence independently — retaining our own expert witnesses when necessary, reviewing lab reports, and challenging eyewitness identification through cross-examination. Eyewitness testimony is notoriously unreliable, and we challenge it aggressively at trial.
If law enforcement violated your Fourth Amendment rights — conducting a search without a warrant or valid exception, obtaining a confession without proper Miranda warnings, or conducting an unlawful seizure — the resulting evidence can be suppressed. Cases built on suppressed evidence often collapse entirely.
Many violent crime convictions require proof of specific mental states — intentional, knowing, or reckless conduct. When the state’s evidence does not establish the required intent beyond a reasonable doubt, we argue for acquittal or reduction to a lesser charge. Mental health factors, voluntary intoxication, and other circumstances can affect the mental state analysis.
Not every case goes to trial. In cases where the state’s evidence is strong, we work aggressively to negotiate charge reductions, plea agreements, and sentencing recommendations that protect our clients from the worst outcomes. Former prosecutor experience gives us direct insight into how the state values its cases — and where they are willing to move.
Many violent crime charges in Arizona are also designated as domestic violence offenses under ARS 13-3601 when the alleged victim has a domestic relationship with the defendant. A domestic violence designation adds additional consequences: mandatory counseling, firearm prohibition under federal law, and a domestic violence designation on the criminal record. If your charge involves a family member, romantic partner, or household member, this overlay significantly affects the defense strategy.
Violent crime cases require lawyers who have handled them at every level — investigation, pre-indictment negotiation, preliminary hearings, trial, and sentencing. Our team includes former prosecutors who have handled homicide, assault, and robbery cases from the state’s side. That experience tells us how prosecutors build these cases, what evidence they prioritize, and where they have weaknesses.
We represent clients across Arizona — in Maricopa County, Mohave County, Pinal County, La Paz County, and statewide. We offer affordable payment plans and can begin your representation with very little money down. Violent crime cases move quickly, particularly when a defendant is in custody. Call us 24/7, and we will get to work immediately.
Every minute counts when you’re facing criminal charges in Arizona. Whether you were just arrested or have court next week, our team is ready to start building your defense right now. We offer free consultations and can start protecting your rights today with flexible payment plans that work for your budget.
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