As a border state to Mexico, Arizona is a highly drug-trafficked state, and therefore, has severe penalties for dangerous drug possession, drug use, and manufacture and transportation of drugs. Specifically, the possession of methamphetamine in Arizona is a crime that is punished more harshly than...
In a previous post, we covered the difference between a misdemeanor and felony, as well as the different levels and sentences for misdemeanors. In this post, we’d like to discuss felonies in more depth. If you’ve been charged with a felony in Arizona, the first...
The act of killing another person is a very serious crime with very serious consequences. First degree murder is the highest level of homicide, and it will be punished harshly. If you find yourself facing a charge of first degree murder in Arizona, you will...
Even though it is dangerous and illegal, street racing activity is growing nationwide—especially in Arizona. In fact, Arizona ranks second out of all states for drivers with illegal street racing violations. The Phoenix Police Department reports that street racing incidents jumped from 388 in 2019...
In general, Arizona defines white collar crime as nonviolent actions that break the law. More often than not, the illegal activities in this category deal with finances. From accountants unlawfully altering the books, to fund managers siphoning off money for personal gain, these types of...
Prescription drug abuse and overdose continue to be a growing epidemic in the United States. In fact, a recent CBS News article reports that, “For the first time on record, Americans are more likely to die of an accidental opioid overdose than in a motor...
In our previous Coolidge Law Firm blog post we began to discuss the difference between civil and criminal law by first defining criminal law and how it plays out in a courtroom. We mentioned that both civil and criminal law have been developed in order...
In a previous blog post we discussed the Arizona minimum mandatory sentencing guidelines for felonies, which act as a baseline when judges are determining how to punish a convicted criminal. From there, the judge will look at evidence and facts presented that would either mitigate...
One of the most common questions we receive at Coolidge Law is, “What happens if you refuse to take a blood alcohol test?” This question has different answers. It also raises other questions like, “Can you refuse a breathalyzer and request a blood test?” and...
As a criminal defense law firm in Phoenix, we spend a lot of time in courthouses around the Pheonix-Metro area. Every day we witness guilty people being convicted, whether it be a simple traffic offense or a more serious crime like sexual assault. At times,...