Arson is a Serious Crime in Arizona
Arson is a serious crime that can result in serious, lasting consequences if convicted. Intentionally damaging property using fire or explosives can leave you facing harsh charges with a permanent record.
If you’ve been charged with arson in Arizona, you need a skilled Phoenix arson lawyer to help you build a strong defense. Our team of arson lawyers at JacksonWhite Law is dedicated to minimizing your chances of facing harsh charges by ensuring you understand your rights, defending you in court, and guiding you throughout the legal process.
Understanding Arson Charges
Under ARS 13-1704, arson in Arizona is described as the illegal damage of a structure or property by intentionally causing a fire or explosion. The severity of an arson charge is often related to the amount of damage caused to a property and the surrounding circumstances.
Arson charges include:
- A class 4 felony if the property was valued at greater than $1,000.
- A class 4 felony if the property had a value of more than $100, but less than $1,000.
- A class 1 misdemeanor if the property was valued at $100 or less.
Penalties associated with arson charges include probation with no jail time and a fine of $2,500 up to 12 and a half years in prison. Charges and penalties can be even more severe depending on other circumstances surrounding the incident.
For example, if the property was occupied at the time of the fire, consequences are likely to be far more severe, often designated as a class 2 felony with years in prison. Previous convictions for starting a fire can also increase prison sentences by many years.
Difference Between Arson & Reckless Burning
Arson and reckless burning are often considered similar crimes, but there are key differences between these two acts. You may face different consequences depending on which act you commit.
Arson is the intentional burning of someone else’s or one’s own property. For example, an individual who sets fire to their garage to collect insurance compensation may be charged with arson.
Meanwhile, reckless burning happens when an individual causes a fire that damages property but did not intend to. For example, someone who sets off illegal fireworks that unintentionally ignite someone else’s backyard shed can be charged with reckless burning.
Because of the unintentional nature of reckless burning, the penalties are often less severe, with the crime often being classified as a misdemeanor. Still, both cases require the guidance of an experienced attorney to help you avoid the harshest penalties.
If you’ve been charged with either of these crimes, it’s important to contact a skilled criminal defense attorney as soon as possible. An attorney can help you understand the charges against you as well as any potential defenses you can use.
Common Defenses Against Arson Charges
Having a strong legal defense is the best way to maximize your chances of avoiding harsh charges against you. It’s crucial that you have the support of a skilled defense attorney to build the best possible defense. With experience defending clients against arson, property damage, and reckless burning charges, our attorneys can help you build a case for reduced or dropped charges.
Depending on your case, we may be able to help you use some of the following defenses:
- Lack of Intent – Depending on your circumstances, we can argue that the defendant did not intend to commit arson or cause damage.
- Accidental Fire – If we can prove that the circumstances leading to the fire were accidental and unintentional, we can use this in your defense to avoid harsh charges.
- Insufficient Evidence – The prosecution must be able to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, but if their evidence is questionable or is unable to link you to the crime, we can use this in your defense.
- Mistaken Identity – If you were mistaken for someone else, we may be able to argue that the prosecution has the wrong defendant.
- Alternative Causes – In some circumstances, we may be able to demonstrate that the fire was caused by a different factor, like faulty wiring, natural causes, or other accidental circumstances.
The best defense for your case is contingent upon the circumstances of your case and the crime you were accused of. When you schedule a consultation with our team, we’ll take the time to understand your case and begin building a defense strategy that maximizes your chance of reduced or dropped charges.
How JacksonWhite Can Help
An experienced Phoenix arson attorney is an invaluable resource in cases of arson or property damage, helping you fight back against your charges and overcome the harshest possible penalties. At JacksonWhite, we take a compassionate approach to every case, listening to your concerns, understanding the details of your case, and working to promote the best possible outcome.
We begin every case with a free initial consultation to understand your case and the charges you are facing. Then, we get to work advocating for you.
Our attorneys offer all the following areas of support:
- Evaluation of Evidence –We’ll take a look at the evidence available in your case to help us combat holes in the prosecution’s case and build a defense that works in your favor.
- Defense Strategy Development – With a deep understanding of your case, we will get to work building a defense strategy that increases your chances of avoiding harsh charges.
- Challenging Evidence – We will challenge any evidence put forth by the prosecution to find holes in their case and increase your chances of an acquittal.
- Negotiation of Plea Deals – Based on your charges, we’ll negotiate with the prosecution to secure a plea deal that reduces your penalties.
- Court Representation – We will represent you in all court hearings, trials, and appearances while presenting your defense and advocating for your rights.
- Legal Advice – Our attorneys will provide guided legal advice based on your situation and the charges against you.
We treat every case with the attention to detail it deserves. When you discuss your case with us, we’ll take the time to determine the best legal avenue and what steps we can take to promote the best possible outcome—all while taking a compassionate approach to listen to you and ensure you are an active participant in the process.
Why Immediate Legal Action is Essential
If you’ve been charged with arson, it’s crucial to seek legal support as soon as possible. Immediate legal action is crucial for getting started on building a strong defense and avoiding being dug into a deeper legal hole of charges.
Immediate legal action offers all the following benefits:
- Preservation of Evidence – The longer you wait after being charged, the harder it is to obtain evidence that can support your defense, like witnesses and an alibi.
- Protection of Rights – The earlier you secure an arson attorney, the sooner you have a resource advocating for you to help you understand your rights and avoid being taken advantage of by the prosecution.
- Avoidance of Harsher Penalties – Swift legal action gives you the ability to begin determining your legal options and building a strategy to avoid harsh penalties.
- Strong Defense Strategy – The sooner you hire an attorney, the sooner they can get to work building a defense strategy for your case, maximizing the chances of a more positive outcome.
- Damage Mitigation – By addressing charges as soon as possible, you can minimize damage to your reputation and prevent lasting impacts to your record.
When you contact us at JacksonWhite, we’ll get to work right away building a defense strategy. Our team understands the importance of swift legal action and will pull out all the stops to defend you and ensure you understand your rights as we navigate the courts with you.Â
Potential Outcomes for Your Case
The outcomes for your case depend on the specific details of each unique situation. However, there is one thing that’s always true—working with an experienced criminal defense attorney will help you maximize your chances of a positive outcome. At JacksonWhite, we work to advocate for you and craft the most rigid defense in search of the best possible outcome.
Our team at JacksonWhite Law may be able to help you pursue some of the following potential outcomes:
- Reduced Charges – With a strong defense and negotiating tactics, we’ll advocate for your charges to be reduced to a less severe offense.
- Dismissal of Charges – By working to dismantle the prosecution’s case, we’ll seek a complete dismissal of your charges.
- Plea Bargain – Our arson attorneys will negotiate with the prosecution to seek a plea bargain that brings about reduced charges.
- Reduced Sentencing – We will advocate for a reduced sentence, such as a shorter time in jail or alternative sentencing, like community service and classes.
- Mitigating Factors – We can raise attention to mitigating factors in your case, like a lack of previous convictions or a positive standing in the community, in search of reduced charges.
- Probation – With a strong defense, our attorneys may be able to advocate for a probation sentence instead of jail time.
The potential outcomes for your case vary depending on the unique circumstances surrounding it and the defense strategies available to you. To gather a better, more accurate understanding of the outcomes you may be able to achieve, it’s essential to consult an experienced arson attorney. Our attorneys at JacksonWhite can help.
Previous Case Results
Our criminal defense attorneys at JacksonWhite have helped countless clients combat harsh charges, like arson, and secure a more positive outcome for their case. In similar cases to arson, like instances of disorderly conduct, we’ve been able to accomplish outcomes for our clients that have resulted in reduced or even dropped charges.
Some examples of our successful criminal defense cases include dismissed charges or reduced penalties for arson, DUI, narcotic possession, disorderly conduct, and more. These are just a few examples of our criminal defense litigation successes—we’ve defended thousands of clients against harsh charges.
If you are facing a charge for arson, property damage, or something similar, contact our criminal defense team as soon as possible. Starting with a free initial consultation, we will take every possible step to understand your case and build a defense that increases your chance of a positive outcome.
Find Aggressive Legal Representation for Arson Charges
If you’ve been charged with arson in Arizona, you may be facing severe penalties up to a class 4 felony with consequences like time in prison or significant fines. A skilled Phoenix arson lawyer can help you build to push back against arson charges in search of a case dismissal.
In search of an experienced arson lawyer, turn to our team at JacksonWhite Law. Our team of Phoenix arson lawyers takes a thoughtful and compassionate approach to each case, listening to our clients to understand the unique details of each case and build a solid strategy to support a better outcome.
Give us a call at (480) 467-4370 to schedule a consultation with our Criminal Law team to get started in building your case.
Meet JacksonWhite Law
We are a full-service law firm focused on Criminal Defense.
As premier defense attorneys in Arizona, we’ve helped clients go from facing criminal charges to having less severe penalties, which can then makes it easier for our clients to move on after a criminal case. Some of the outcomes and results we’ve secured include:
• Reduced charges
• Dropped charges and cases
• Lessened penalties
• Probation, fines and classes instead of jail time
At JacksonWhite, we’re focused on the road ahead – not what’s behind you. We’ll make every effort to understand your case and offer legal solutions that can allow you to move forward and minimize the negative impact on your life. We’ve helped adults and juveniles facing all types of criminal charges, from DUI and drug crimes to violent crimes related to domestic violence, assault and battery. Our experienced attorneys will combine their knowledge, guidance and skill set to work toward the best possible outcome for you and your case.
