Arizona Criminal Defense Attorney Blog

A new Arizona Court of Appeals ruling holds that Prop 207 does not shield adults from felony charges for providing marijuana to a minor, even though a minor’s own possession now carries lighter civil penalties.

Arizona fentanyl trafficking penalties reach more people in 2026 than they did a year ago. In April 2026, the state signed House Bill 2132 into law, cutting from 200 grams to 100 grams the amount of fentanyl that triggers Arizona’s harshest enhanced sentencing for sale and vehicle-transport offenses. At roughly 1,000 counterfeit pills, that lower…

Yes — under a November 28, 2025 ruling from the Arizona Supreme Court, an officer can lawfully stop you for staying in the middle lane on a Maricopa County freeway if you are driving slower than the flow of traffic and another vehicle passes you on the right. The decision in State v. Alvarez-Soto expands…

An Arizona appeals court just vacated three convictions because a forensic nurse repeated a non-testifying victim’s account at trial. The ruling in State v. Johnson sharpens the line between medical treatment and police evidence-gathering, and it strengthens the hand of every defendant facing assault, aggravated assault, or domestic violence charges in Maricopa County. James Novak…

Arizona Court of Appeals affirms conviction for drug possession for sale based on coded texts and expert officer testimony. What this ruling means for your defense.

If you have been charged with theft, the best defenses usually come from attacking intent, identity, ownership, or value, not from trying to “explain” yourself to police. The Law Office of James E. Novak helps people facing theft charges in Phoenix, AZ, and the most effective approach starts early, while evidence is still available and…

A domestic violence charge in Arizona can escalate quickly when the State alleges prior domestic violence convictions. Many people expect a new allegation to stand on its own. Arizona law allows prosecutors to file aggravated domestic violence charges when prior domestic violence convictions fall within an 84-month window. That charge level can raise the stakes…

Arizona treats DUI more seriously than many states. A basic DUI applies when your blood alcohol concentration is 0.08 or higher, or when drugs or alcohol impair your driving to the slightest degree. Drivers under 21 can be charged with any detectable alcohol. Commercial drivers face lower limits. Police will often rely on field sobriety…

Aggressive driving charges in Arizona have increased across the state, and many drivers do not realize how quickly this type of allegation turns into a criminal case. A traffic stop that begins with speeding or unsafe lane use can escalate into a class 1 misdemeanor under Arizona Revised Statutes section 28-695. That classification places aggressive…

You can assert self-defense from inside a locked bedroom, even when the person trying to come through the door entered the home as a guest of a co-resident. The Arizona Supreme Court confirmed that principle on October 7, 2025, and that ruling gives you powerful arguments if you face a confrontation in a shared residence.…