02 May Attempt Classifications in Arizona: How They Change a Criminal Charge
Every crime has a classification, whether it’s a petty offense, a misdemeanor, or a felony. However, some qualifiers—such as the word “attempted”—can change how a crime is charged. Because attempting a crime is not as bad as committing a crime, the punishments are not as severe. Read on to learn more about how an attempted charge can affect a criminal case.
How Does Arizona Define Attempt?
According to Arizona law, a person who attempts to commit a crime can still face criminal charges. An attempted crime can be anything from trespassing to murder. The “attempt” tag simply means that although the crime was not committed, it was still planned, and steps were taken to commit it. Essentially, the prosecution needs to prove that if you had not been stopped, or you did not change your mind, you would have committed the crime.
Crimes can be attempted in three different ways:
1: Intentionally engaging in an activity that a reasonable person might believe will lead to the crime. For example, this Arizona man was arrested for attempting to assault a minor based on his online exchanges with an undercover officer.
2: Intentionally engaging in any steps toward committing a crime. For example, procuring the tools needed to commit a forgery.
3: Knowingly aiding another person in their attempt to commit a crime. For example, tampering with a security camera to make it easier for someone else to commit a robbery.
Attempt Can Lessen a Criminal Charge
The “attempted” classifier lessens the charges that you would face if you had successfully committed the same crime. For example, first-degree murder is a class 1 felony, but “attempted” murder is only a class 2 felony. Typically, attempting a crime lessens its severity by one class.
If the offense is originally a:
- Class 1 felony, attempt changes it to a class 2 felony
- Class 2 felony, attempt changes it to a class 3 felony
- Class 3 felony, attempt changes it to a class 4 felony
- Class 4 felony, attempt changes it to a class 5 felony
- Class 5 felony, attempt changes it to a class 6 felony
- Class 6 felony, attempt changes it to a class 1 misdemeanor
- Class 1 misdemeanor, attempt changes it to a class 2 misdemeanor
- Class 2 misdemeanor, attempt changes it to a class 3 misdemeanor
- Class 3 misdemeanor, attempt changes it to a petty offense
Criminal Defense Attorney in Phoenix
If you are facing charges for an attempted crime, you need a good lawyer on your side. Todd Coolidge is a certified criminal defense attorney with over 25 years of experience in Arizona law. Every case he takes on gets his full attention, and he works hard to secure the best possible outcome for every client. Don’t let a criminal conviction ruin your life—contact Coolidge Law today to schedule a consultation.