You will never face penalties as serious as those that come with violent crime convictions. The state of Arizona takes violent crime seriously, and prosecutors often go to great lengths to secure convictions. It is imperative that you have a high-powered Coolidge violent crimes lawyer by your side if you hope to avoid life in prison or even the death penalty.
A reputable Coolidge criminal defense lawyer from Suzuki Law Offices is available 24/7 to help the innocent and accused protect their futures. When your freedom is in jeopardy, presenting a compelling defense strategy may be your best chance at clearing your name.
Contact our office to schedule a confidential consultation today and discuss the type of violent crime charges you are facing, the strength of the district attorney’s case against you, and the possible penalties you are facing if convicted.
Violent Crimes Have the Most Serious Penalties
When looking at the various types of criminal charges that are possible across the board in Arizona, violent crimes have the most serious penalties. This is because victims in these cases often suffer catastrophic injury or death. You may require the legal support of a Coolidge armed robbery defense lawyer from Suzuki Law Offices if you are going to protect your future.
Our team has defended against countless types of violent crimes. Our former prosecutors, law enforcement officials, and investigators have first-hand experience building cases against defendants, which gives us unique insight into how the state may approach your violent crime charges. Here are some of the most common types of violent crime charges our clients have faced:
Aggravated Assault
A reputable Coolidge sex crimes defense lawyer may be able to defend you if you are accused of committing aggravated assault. This is an offense that can be tried as a class six, five, four, three, or two felony, depending on the individual circumstances of each case. Typically, aggravated assault involves a serious bodily injury and a dangerous instrument or deadly weapon per ARS § 13-1204.
If convicted of a class two aggravated assault defense, which is the most serious of all aggravated assault charges, you could be facing up to 12 1/2 years in prison. If aggravating factors are present, you could expect enhanced penalties. You could also be ordered to pay fines as high as $150,000.
Manslaughter
Manslaughter is another type of violent crime we have considerable experience defending against. In manslaughter cases, the defendant has been accused of recklessly or intentionally causing someone else’s death. This is a felony offense under ARS § 13-1103, punishable by up to 12 1/2 years in an Arizona state prison facility.
Homicide
There are several types of homicide charges described under the Arizona criminal code. First-degree murder charges apply under ARS § 13-1105 if the defendant killed someone else intentionally or with premeditation. If convicted, you could spend life in prison without the possibility of parole or possibly even be sentenced to death.
You could be accused of second-degree murder if you killed someone else with intent, but it was not premeditated. If convicted of second-degree murder under ARS § 13-1104, you could spend up to 25 years in prison. Additionally, you could face negligent homicide charges under ARS § 13-1102, punishable by up to eight years in prison.
Ways to Defend Yourself When You Are Accused
When accused of a violent crime, it is imperative that we build the strongest defense strategy possible. It is unlikely that you will be eligible for a pretrial diversion, as this option is normally reserved for nonviolent offenders. However, depending on the nature of the charges against you and other factors, the prosecutor may be willing to work out a plea agreement.
If you reject a plea agreement or are ready to take your chances at trial, we will need to review the state’s evidence against you and the circumstances of your case to determine which defense strategy is most likely to result in an acquittal or other favorable outcome. Several approaches may apply to your violent crime case. For instance, we may be able to avoid formal charges being filed altogether if you can provide law enforcement officials with an alibi.
In court, we may be able to argue self-defense. If you used necessary or proportionate force against someone else in the protection of yourself or others when under an immediate threat of great bodily injury or death, self-defense may be a valid defense strategy in your case. Constitutional rights violations, unlawful search and seizure, impairment at the time of the offense, and other defense strategies could also be used based on the unique details of your case.
The Burden of Proof in Criminal Cases
Your Coolidge violent crimes attorney with Suzuki Law Offices will need to present powerful supporting evidence if we are going to avoid a conviction. The burden of proof is beyond a reasonable doubt in criminal cases, according to the Arizona Judicial Branch. This means the prosecutor must prove your guilt beyond any reasonable doubt for the jury to find you guilty.
While you are supposed to be presumed innocent until proven guilty, this is rarely the case. Instead, you may need to rely on your legal advocate to introduce reasonable doubt so the jury feels obligated to acquit you or find you guilty of a less serious offense. The burden of proof is supposed to be high in criminal cases due to the severe consequences that come with a conviction, and our team will be responsible for gathering the evidence needed to prove reasonable doubt exists in your case.
Get Help From a Strategic Violent Crimes Lawyer in Coolidge Today
You cannot afford to trust your defense to an underpaid, overworked public defender who lacks the resources needed to build the strongest defense strategy possible. When your very freedom is on the line, you need to invest in a trial-proven violent crimes attorney in Coolidge from Suzuki Law Offices if you are going to safeguard your future. With our team building your defense, you have an opportunity to avoid the devastating criminal penalties that follow a conviction.
Do not let your fear of what the future might bring prevent you from getting the legal help you need when you need it most. With 30+ years of trial experience and a passion for zealous client advocacy, you can feel confident in your defense with Suzuki Law Offices fighting for your freedom.
Discuss potential defense strategies more extensively when you contact our office through our secured contact form or by phone to schedule your free, no-obligation consultation as soon as today.
Call or text (602) 682-5270 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form