Phoenix  Criminal Defense Attorney Nick Alcock discusses violent crimes

The issue of violent crimes has a long history not only in Arizona but in society, in general.  Crimes that might otherwise be a high-level misdemeanor (assault, stalking) or low-level felony are charged as major felonies for any of the following factors. As a criminal defense attorney, I know that little details in the facts of a case can make all the difference.

Was a deadly weapon used or even on your person while committing a crime?  Was a dangerous instrument such as a knife, baseball bat, beer bottle or anything on one’s person or used against the victim capable of causing serious injury?  Did the victim sustain life-threatening or lasting injuries from a weapon or physical assault?

Any of the above dangerous allegations automatically escalates a violent crime to mandatory prison time, even on a first offense.  Even in plea negotiations, the prosecution will almost always demand at least the minimum prison time.  Prosecutors and judges fully understand that violent crime statistics, particularly those that deal with conviction rates, can go a long way towards deciding elections, which is why they are typically so ruthless in their efforts to prosecute those charged with a violent crime in Arizona.

Generally, if a suspect has no prior criminal record and no one was seriously injured in the act of the alleged crime, prosecutors will likely charge the suspect with the most severe charge possible in order to secure a strong degree of leverage for any negotiation in regards to a plea bargain with the defense attorney.  If the suspect has a criminal history or someone was seriously injured, prosecutors tend to take a much harder line.  In certain situations they can use mandatory sentencing guidelines in their favor and could refuse to even negotiate a plea bargain.

This reality should only help you understand the importance of hiring an experienced, skilled criminal defense attorney to help you fight your charges and make sure that your rights are properly protected and enforced.

Clearly, being charged with a violent crime in Arizona is an extremely serious situation to face and you need to immediately get started on building your defense.  At Alcock and Associates, our attorneys have the critical experience and know strategies to fight these charges to avoid a conviction or minimize the adverse consequences.  We will explore all possible defenses to your violent crimes charge to find grounds for dismissal or suppression of evidence. Most often in major felony cases, the success of a top criminal defense attorney is based on their ability to identify weaknesses in the prosecution’s case such as finding mistakes with the investigation and/or with the handling of evidence.  Such mistakes can lead to an acquittal or dismissal of the charges against you.

Please contact Alcock and Associates immediately at 602-989-5000 if you are facing serious felony charges for a violent crime. The consultation is always free and together we will carefully explore your options in Court.  We have staff members who are fluent in Spanish, including Mr. Alcock himself.  If you choose to hire our firm, we charge a flat fee, offer affordable payment plans and we will always put everything in writing for you that is easy to understand.