If you’ve been charged with a weapons offense, it’s important to retain experienced legal counsel. At Suzuki Law Offices, our guns and weapons charges lawyers in Phoenix have extensive experience defending clients facing serious gun crime allegations.
We understand these cases can have life-altering consequences if convicted. Our violent crime lawyers in Phoenix know how to examine the evidence for weaknesses to exploit, push back against unreasonable prosecution demands, and craft a solid defense strategy.
As former prosecutors, we know how such cases are built and how to identify any vulnerabilities. Our Phoenix guns and weapons crime defense lawyers will fight for your rights and work toward the most favorable outcome, whether through the dismissal of charges or a negotiated plea.
Why Choose Suzuki Law Offices for Your Guns and Weapons Charges Lawyer in Phoenix?
When you are facing gun and weapons charges in Phoenix, the attorney you choose makes a real difference in the outcome of your case.
Suzuki Law Offices is a firm that brings together a team built on experience, integrity, and a genuine commitment to fighting for clients at every stage of the legal process.
Whether you are dealing with a firearm offense, a weapons crime, or charges involving a deadly weapon, our Phoenix weapons crimes lawyers are here to help.
Decades of Combined Legal Experience
The attorneys at Suzuki Law Offices bring a tremendous amount of experience to every case, with legal careers spanning 20 to 30 years.
That depth of knowledge means your case is handled by lawyers who have seen virtually every type of weapon crime in Maricopa County and know how to build a strong defense strategy, whether your case is heard in state or federal court.
Former Assistant United States Attorney
RJ previously served as an Assistant United States Attorney, giving him direct insight into how federal prosecutors think, how they build cases in federal court, and where weaknesses in the government’s case can be found.
That perspective is a significant advantage when you are facing a weapons offense or a charge tied to a violent crime, and your freedom is on the line.
In-House Former and Retired Law Enforcement Investigators
Suzuki Law Offices has former and retired law enforcement investigators working in-house as part of the defense team.
These professionals understand how investigations are conducted, how evidence is collected, and how to identify procedural errors that can benefit your case, including issues with the chain of custody or an altered or missing serial number on a firearm.
Available 24/7, Including Weekends
A weapons crime does not wait for business hours, and neither do we. Suzuki Law Offices is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including weekends, so you can reach legal counsel when you need it most. When gun crime allegations arise, time matters.
Excellence Through Passion, Compassion, Integrity, and Experience
Every client who walks through our doors is treated with respect and honesty. We approach each case with passion for the law, compassion for the people we represent, and an unwavering commitment to integrity throughout the entire process.
As experienced violent crime lawyers, we take every charge seriously, whether you are facing days in jail or a lengthy prison sentence.
Responsive and Proactive Communication
We understand that waiting for updates on your case is stressful. Our team stays on top of communication so that you always know where your case stands and what to expect next. When you choose Suzuki Law Offices as your legal counsel in Maricopa County, you will never be left wondering.
Common Defense Strategies for Guns and Weapons Charges
The right defense strategy depends on the specific facts of your case, but experienced weapon crimes attorneys have a range of approaches they may use to challenge the prosecution’s case.
Whether you are accused of possessing a deadly weapon, violating concealed carry laws, or carrying an automatic rifle without proper authorization, a skilled Phoenix weapons crimes lawyer will evaluate every angle. Some of the most common defense strategies include:
- Illegal search and seizure: If law enforcement obtained the weapon through a search that violated your Fourth Amendment rights, the evidence may be suppressed and cannot be used against you in federal court or state court.
- Lack of possession or knowledge: If you were not aware the weapon was present or did not have control over it, the prosecution may not be able to prove the possession element of the firearm offense.
- Improper stop or arrest: If the initial stop or arrest was not supported by reasonable suspicion or probable cause, any evidence gathered as a result may be inadmissible in court.
- Chain of custody issues: If the prosecution cannot properly account for how the weapon was handled, stored, and transferred from the scene to the courtroom, the integrity of the evidence can be called into question, which is a critical part of any defense strategy.
- Prohibited possessor status challenged: If the state claims you are a prohibited possessor, meaning someone legally barred from owning or carrying a firearm, your attorney can examine whether that designation was properly established and applied.
- Serial number disputes: If a charge involves an allegedly altered or removed serial number, the defense can challenge how investigators identified the firearm and whether proper procedures were followed.
- Valid permit or legal ownership: If you had a legal right to possess the firearm and were in compliance with Arizona concealed carry laws, that can be a complete defense to certain weapon crimes charges.
- Weapon in furtherance disputes: In federal cases, prosecutors sometimes argue that a firearm was used in furtherance of another crime. Your attorney can challenge whether the facts actually support that connection.
- Completion of a firearms safety training course: In some cases, completing a firearms safety training course or agreeing to community service may factor into negotiations for a reduced charge or a more favorable sentencing outcome.
- Entrapment: If law enforcement induced or pressured you into committing a weapons offense that you would not have otherwise committed, an entrapment defense may apply.
- Mistaken identity: If the weapon did not belong to you and the prosecution cannot place it in your hands, challenging the identification evidence can be a viable defense strategy against gun crime allegations.
Representation from an Aggressive, Effective Phoenix Criminal Defense Firm
All of our Phoenix criminal defense lawyers have extensive experience handling criminal matters in both state and federal court.
Our founder, Richard Suzuki, brings a unique perspective to every case, having previously served as both a Maricopa County prosecutor and Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Arizona.
This dual background means we understand not just how to mount the strongest defense, but how the prosecution builds its case against our clients. We know the specific evidence needed to charge different crimes as well as the tactics prosecutors may try to use.
Using this insight, we can ask the right questions to thoroughly investigate the allegations and poke holes in their theories of the case. With our unique blend of prosecution and defense experience, you’ll have access to the most effective defense strategies.
Investigation Is Key
Some of the key issues we examine include analyzing the chain of custody of any recovered firearms. We review where and how the gun was found to determine if it was obtained legally or through an illegal search/seizure.
We also scrutinize any eyewitness accounts or statements allegedly made by our client. Perhaps most importantly, we closely examine the forensics to establish whether the evidence actually ties our client to the weapon in question.
If weaknesses are identified, we will aggressively pursue all legal strategies to get the charges dismissed or suppressed. But if needed, our experienced trial attorneys are fully prepared to defend your case before a jury.
Arizona Gun and Weapon Laws
In Arizona, any individual 21 years or older may carry a firearm openly or concealed without a license as long as they do not have a felony conviction or mental illness and complete a safety course.
Although Arizona does have less restrictive gun laws, gun offenses can result in harsh penalties that can include prison time and felony charges. Our firm can help defend you if you’re facing the following criminal charges:
- Possession during the commission of a crime: Carrying a deadly weapon while committing a felony offense triggers the maximum mandatory prison sentence for the underlying offense.
- Prohibited possessor: A convicted felon or an illegal alien in possession of a weapon or gun may face mandatory prison for carrying or possessing a firearm.
- Prohibited firearms: Assault weapons, sawed-off shotguns, armor-piercing ammo, and other banned weapons.
- Illegal in possession: If you are in the U.S. by unlawful entry, you may face stiff prison time for being caught with a weapon.
- Altered serial number: A serious federal offense
- Unlawful concealment: No permit to carry concealed
Whether your gun charges include standalone charges of the above or are combined with other crimes such as assault, robbery, burglary, or another type of violent crime, our firearm defense attorneys have the experience to investigate and defend you against even the most serious of weapons charges.
Unlawful Discharge
Firearms charges can stem from the following:
- Unlawful discharge: It is a class 6 felony to discharge a firearm with criminal negligence in a municipality, punishable by 1.5 – 3 years in prison.
- Disorderly conduct: A class 6 felony to recklessly handle, display, or discharge a firearm to disturb others, also carrying a 1.5 – 3-year prison term.
- Drive-by shooting: A class 2 felony to purposely fire a gun from a vehicle at a person, an occupied vehicle, or a building, mandating 7-21 years in prison plus a 1-5 year license revocation.
- Aggravated assault: Using a firearm to commit assault is a class 3 dangerous felony, requiring a 5-15 year sentence without probation.
Arizona takes deadly weapons crimes very seriously, with penalties including mandatory prison time upon conviction of offenses like drive-by shooting or aggravated assault. This is why it is critical to engage the help of a guns and weapons crime attorney in Phoenix immediately.
Arizona Revised Statutes for Guns and Weapons Charges
Arizona’s laws surrounding guns, weapons crimes, and firearm offenses are detailed, frequently updated, and carry serious consequences for those charged under them.
The attorneys at Suzuki Law Offices stay current on all relevant Arizona revised statutes governing deadly weapons, prohibited possessor designations, concealed carry laws, serial number violations, and related offenses, as well as the federal laws that apply when cases are prosecuted in federal court.
Because these laws can change and because the way they apply depends entirely on the facts of your specific situation, we strongly encourage anyone facing gun crime allegations in Maricopa County or anywhere in Arizona to contact our law firm for up-to-date legal counsel.
Contact a Guns and Weapons Crime Defense Lawyer in Phoenix Today for a Free Consultation
The use of a gun or deadly weapon to carry out a crime results in serious consequences, but even just possession of one can yield years in jail. The guns and weapons charges lawyers in Phoenix at Suzuki Law Offices can capably represent you at trial.
If you are charged with a gun crime under Arizona or federal law, contact our weapons offense team immediately for a free initial consultation to learn more about how we can help.
From our Phoenix law offices, we represent English-speaking and Spanish-speaking clients in the Phoenix area, Maricopa County, and the surrounding counties of southern Arizona. To learn more about criminal defense, visit our FAQ page.
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