Phoenix Criminal Defense Law Blog

We have previously shared posts about proposed gun laws in Arizona that would allow the carrying of guns on public college campuses. There was a bill regarding the issue last year that Governor Brewer vetoed, and there is a new attempt to expand the right to bear arms on college campuses this year.

This time around, the legislative proposal is called SB1474 and in order to face a better chance at being passed, its creators set a clearer outline that sought to allow permit carriers to carry a gun on campus. Unsurprisingly, critics who are against the idea are starting to speak out.

As readers in the Phoenix area may know, police and news reports often have something eerily in common: they are both written in such a way as to promote the conviction of an accused individual. However, any person who is accused of a crime deserves to have the circumstances of the allegations analyzed and considered in such a way as to cast doubt on the claims of the police and prosecution. Placing the full burden of proof on the prosecution is what a good criminal defense does, and every accused person in Arizona deserves such a defense, regardless of the nature of the allegations he or she faces.

With these issues in mind, Arizona residents will be interested to hear of a recent news report about a 23-year-old Gilbert man whom police have charged with assault and disorderly conduct after an altercation with his ex-fiancé's new boyfriend.

It doesn't take long for reality to set in once someone becomes a suspect in a drunk driving case in Arizona. DUIs are taken seriously here, even if you are a member of local law enforcement. A veteran of the Phoenix Police Department is facing that reality as his state certification is on the line as a result of a DUI arrest last march.

He was pulled over after police reportedly noticed him driving recklessly. Upon investigation, authorities apparently found enough evidence to charge the fellow officer, fired from his position in August, with counts of aggravated DUI and extreme aggravated DUI.

Very few people have completely healthy and problem-free relationships with all of their family. While family relationships are valuable and special, they also can be packed with complexities and emotions that can sometimes lead to legal disputes.

It's important to look at criminal charges involving family members with sensitivity and objectivity. Media reports of an incident generally are based on police reports, which don't take the complexities of family history and relationships into account. This matter comes up because an Arizona father is charged with aggravated assault in Arizona and criminal damage following an incident with his teenage son.

Most of us have heard the phrase, "Big Brother is watching." Currently, the phrase relates to technology and the way that some in the public believe that the government uses it to track the movements of citizens. The past decade has seen advancements in technology, and more and more people are using high-tech devices in their everyday lives.

The trends put more people at risk of being monitored by the government, which is where the U.S. Supreme Court comes in. What started as a drug distribution case out of Washington, D.C., traveled its way to the court because of the constitutional issue it brings up and that is important to all of criminal law. When is using a GPS device to track a suspect a violation of their privacy?

Parenthood is difficult for anyone. Add the element of being a teen to the challenging task of parenting and the stress seems unreal. A hit MTV reality show follows teens who have become parents, and in recent years, the public has seen these teen moms face more than parenting challenges. They've been arrested for incidents of domestic violence, drug use and more.

The most recent "Teen Mom" crime drama is that one of the now 20-year-old stars is in trouble for reportedly violating a restraining order that was out against her. The reality star is not a stranger to legal trouble. In fact, she was arrested not even a week before this violation for supposed harassment and threats. Our source does not indicate who the target of that supposed behavior was.

The public can lean toward cynicism with regards to law enforcement tactics, especially when one of the law enforcement's own is the supposed perpetrator of a crime. Would an officer meet the same legal consequences as an average citizen who is arrested for suspicion of DUI?

Some are specifically questioning the extreme DUI case involving an Arizona officer who was arrested back in December. She was reportedly investigated by police after committing multiple traffic violations and ultimately became the subject of a drunk driving investigation. The incident initially resulted in charges, but they didn't last.

In our previous post, we continued a lasting discussion of now former State Senator Scott Bundgaard and his run-in with the law last February for a domestic dispute with his ex-girlfriend. His ex accused Bundgaard of domestic violence, and he ultimately pleaded no contest to misdemeanor endangerment, having consistently denied wrongdoing.

The drama that the Arizona incident sparked continues. As the last post says, Bundgaard gave up his governmental position. He didn't believe that the Senate Ethics Committee was prepared to give him a fair chance at defending his name and position. But the focus on the domestic violence matter continues, with two bills going before legislature that sources suggest were specifically inspired by the high-profile matter.