Posts for Category Criminal Defense

• Defending the Fifth - Alec Baldwin Declined the Right to Remain Silent by Aaron M. Black
  02/03/2023... Actor Alec Baldwin, now charged in New Mexico with involuntary manslaughter and a second charge of reckless disregard of safety without due caution and circumspection, which is a more serious offense, made a terrible mistake – he abandoned the Fifth Amendment protection and started talking during a police interview.
• Criminal Defense For Auto Theft Cases in Arizona by Aaron M. Black
  01/13/2023... Stealing a car or truck in Arizona is one of the most common offenses authorities encounter – a vehicle is stolen every 33 minutes in Arizona – but that does not mean they are lax in investigating auto theft cases.
• Issues for Bailing Out of Jail in Arizona by Aaron M. Black
  11/01/2022... Before making national headlines in some states and communities, Arizona addressed the issue of catch and release programs and letting people out of jail without posting bail.
• Illegal Possession of a Firearm in Arizona by Aaron M. Black
  10/03/2022... Arizona punishes simple misbehavior and serious unlawful conduct through its firearm laws, these are not a violation of the second amendment.
• Defending Arson Offences in Arizona’s Courts by Aaron M. Black
  05/19/2022... Arson laws in Arizona cover structure, property, wildland, reckless and cross burning fires, and the charges can be misdemeanors or felonies for “knowingly and unlawfully” committing arson.
• What You Need to Know About Self-Defense in Arizona by Aaron M. Black
  03/28/2022... Using deadly physical force to defend yourself is allowed in AZ. “A person is justified in threatening or using physical force against another when and to the extent a reasonable person would believe that physical force is immediately necessary to protect himself..."
• Celebratory Shooting Arrests Made in Greater Phoenix by Aaron M. Black
  02/03/2022... Authorities arrested five men in four separate criminal negligence incidents for allegedly firing bullets into the air on New Year’s Eve to celebrate the arrival of 2022.
• Phoenix is a Hot Spot for Road Rage by Aaron M. Black
  12/28/2021... Road rage begins with aggressive driving, which is a traffic offense, and road rage moves the offense into the criminal code as a very serious felony with prison, significant fines and life-changing restrictions as punishments.
• Arizona’s Receiving Stolen Property Law by Aaron M. Black
  10/24/2021... Unknowingly buying stolen property is not an excuse. You can still be prosecuted. That is because the law wants to discourage anyone to benefit from a crime. A person who knowingly buys something that was stolen is colluding with the criminal and is equally guilty.
• Peremptory Challenges in Juror Selection to End in Arizona by Aaron M. Black
  09/13/2021... The centuries old practice of dismissing potential jurors without providing a reason, called peremptory, will end in Arizona at the beginning of 2022, ruled the Arizona Supreme Court.
• Living Dangerously: Racing on Greater Phoenix Freeways and Streets by Aaron M. Black
  07/19/2021... If you drive the 101, 202 or the 303 a lot you might have seen a speeding car zipping in and out of traffic and taking chances. You may have seen two cars doing that together. Either way you have witnessed the dangerous activity of racing on greater Phoenix freeways.
• Phoenix Hit-and-Run Law: Drivers Running Scared by Aaron M. Black
  06/04/2021... Drivers who are unfortunate enough to hit someone in Phoenix and make a snap decision to flee the scene are bringing more trouble upon themselves. Circumstances of the misfortune may lead to a viable defense for a felony hit-and-run crime.
• US Supreme Court Weighs Warrantless Searches for Misdemeanors by Aaron M. Black
  05/06/2021... Law enforcement in Arizona has every right to enter a home in hot pursuit of a felony suspect but the U.S. Supreme Court is deciding if law officers can legally enter private property in misdemeanor cases without a search warrant. Any evidence gathered during an illegal search cannot be used against the defendant.
• Arizona’s Street Gang and Criminal Syndicate Law Explained by Aaron M. Black
  04/22/2021... Arizona legislators have enacted laws aimed at street and syndicate gangs to curtail criminal behavior including drive-by shootings; illicit drug sales; weapon violations; homicide and graffiti; assault; burglary; rape; drug possession, use, sales and trafficking; smuggling and homicide, among other offenses. Organized crimes are aggressively prosecuted and the sentences are harsh because these crimes are considered attacks on society. Members of street gangs and organized crime who are convicted often continue their associations in the form of prison gangs. Those convicted under gang laws face harsh penalties, and in certain cases will not qualify for probation.
• Domestic Violence and Homicides Surge in Phoenix During Pandemic by Aaron M. Black
  04/08/2021... All across our nation, pandemic lockdowns and restrictions have dramatically increased the rate of domestic violence and murder, two crimes that often are connected. During 2020, 51 cities of various sizes across the U.S. saw an average 35% jump in murder from 2019 to 2020, according to crime analyst Jeff Asher of Crimealytics in a Christian Science Monitor report published in December 2020.
• Reducing Certain Felonies to a Misdemeanor Charge by Aaron M. Black
  03/25/2021... In certain situations involving a Class 6 felony, the least serious in the range of felonies, it may be possible to have the felony reduced to a Class 1 misdemeanor, the most serious in the misdemeanor class, but still much easier to live with than a felony conviction.
• Ways to Avoid Self-Incrimination While in Custody by Aaron M. Black
  02/11/2021... If law enforcement has arrested you for a crime, then it is important to know how to conduct yourself. You do not want to have your words or actions used against you in court. Criminal defense attorney Aaron Black explains how to avoid self-incrimination while in custody.
• Christmas and the New Year See Spikes in Domestic Violence in Phoenix by Aaron M. Black
  12/18/2020... Since the pandemic began, calls reporting domestic violence have risen by 140 percent over calls a year ago according to the Phoenix Police Department.
• Arizona’s Criminal Accessary and Accomplice Law by Aaron M. Black
  12/11/2020... On its face it may seem unfair for someone to be criminally charged for an act performed by someone else. But those who in any way assist someone to commit or cover up a crime will face the same charges and penalties as the actual perpetrator.
• How to Find the Best Criminal Defense Attorney by Aaron M. Black
  11/13/2020... How do I find the best criminal defense attorney for my case? Phoenix defense attorney Aaron Black offers the following pieces of advice.
• What You Should Know About Deferred Prosecution in Arizona by Aaron M. Black
  10/22/2020... Many defendants are offered a plea bargain or are given the opportunity to enter into a voluntary diversion program known as deferred prosecution.
• Ways to Post Bail in Arizona Criminal Cases by Aaron M. Black
  10/12/2020... Arizona and all other states have an important system that allows people who are charged with a crime to remain free while the case travels its way through the complex legal system, which can take months or even years before resolution.
• I Received a Criminal Summons What Happens Now? by Aaron M. Black
  09/23/2020... This is the first time you will be in court standing before a judge. During this appearance you will be officially informed about the criminal allegations against you. You will also be advised of your right to have an attorney representing you or that one will be appointed for you.
• Think Your Case is Over If It’s ‘Dismissed’ by a Grand Jury in Phoenix? It’s not by Aaron Black
  06/11/2020... You may have seen online that your case was “dismissed” to the grand jury, that doesn’t mean your case is over.
• Knapp Counsel: Private Attorneys Team with Public Defenders in Phoenix, AZ by Aaron Black
  06/04/2020... Having a private attorney along with a public defender wasn’t possible until long after this double murder case first made headlines.