Leonardo Law Offices, PLLC - Attorneys Tucson, Arizona

Domestic violence can be charged as a misdemeanor or a felony. It is typically an allegation that is added to other criminal charges based on your relationship with the alleged victim. Some common charges alleged as domestic violence offenses are: assault, disorderly conduct, criminal damage, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, harassment, and interfering with judicial proceedings.

Domestic violence is a felony when it is alleged in a felony offense, such as aggravated assault. Felony domestic violence can also be charged when an assault involves choking or when an offender already has two prior domestic violence convictions within the last seven years, even if they were misdemeanors.

Drug offenses are common in Arizona, particular the in the Tucson area. While simple possession is sometimes charged as a misdemeanor, it can also be charged as a felony. In felony drug cases, possessing with the intent to distribute and actual drug sales are more serious than simple possession for personal use. The type and the amount of the drug involved is also a big factor in the penalties you face. If the amount of drugs possessed is over Arizona's threshold amount, the law calls for mandatory prison time if convicted.

Felony drug offenses often involve additional offenses, like conspiracy, criminal enterprise, money laundering, and possession of a firearm during a drug transaction, that can be just as serious as the drug offense itself. We have handled everything from simple possession cases to the most complex, multi-state drug conspiracies.

Aside from domestic violence cases, we handle numerous other violent crimes like assault, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon/dangerous instrument, negligent homicide, and manslaughter. These cases are difficult because they usually involve dangerous nature allegations than result in mandatory prison time if convicted. Many of these cases also involve justification defenses like self-defense.

Property crimes include everything from misdemeanor shoplifting, theft, and criminal damage to felony fraud schemes and artifices. Fraud is a serious felony that often involves multiple offenses allegations that can require mandatory prison time if convicted. Property crimes usually come with restitution issues that must also be resolved.

Sex offenses range from misdemeanor indecent exposure and prostitution to felony sexual assault and sexual abuse of a minor. Even misdemeanor sex offenses can require sex offender registration. Serious felony sex offenses can require mandatory prison time. Offenses involving minors are usually alleged as dangerous crimes against children, which places an offender in a completely different and more severe sentencing scheme.

Sexual exploitation of a minor, commonly known as possession of child pornography, is a fairly common offense in Arizona. A conviction carries a mandatory prison range of 10 to 24 years per file! As you can imagine, this adds up fast in the typical case with multiple files alleged. These are often highly technical cases that can require the forensic analysis of computers or other electronic devices and a defense attorney who is familiar with the issues these cases present.

In addition to incarceration, these cases can involve lifetime probation, lifetime registration as a sex offender, and serious restrictions or outright bans on the use of the internet. These are serious penalties in themselves and warrant consideration before deciding how such charges are resolved.

Federal court is much different than state court in Arizona. There are different rules and procedures, and much different sentencing schemes. We have extensive experience in both federal and state courts in Arizona. If you were investigated and arrested by a federal agency, like the FBI, DEA, DHS, ICE, CBP, or the IRS, you have probably been charged with a federal crime, your case will be in Federal District Court, and your case will be prosecuted by the United States Attorney's Office.

Crimes that are commonly brought in Tucson federal court include: transportation or harboring of illegal aliens (alien smuggling), federal drug offenses, federal firearms offenses, mail fraud, wire fraud, conspiracies, money laundering, child pornography, public corruption, and federal DUI charges.