{"id":13194,"date":"2015-06-19T14:50:56","date_gmt":"2015-06-19T21:50:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.jacksonwhitelaw.com\/criminal-defense-law\/?page_id=13194"},"modified":"2024-05-03T14:48:42","modified_gmt":"2024-05-03T21:48:42","slug":"obstruction","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.jacksonwhitelaw.com\/criminal-defense-law\/blog\/obstruction\/","title":{"rendered":"Obstruction Laws in Arizona"},"content":{"rendered":"
The state of Arizona has extensive laws defining obstruction. This is due to the wide variety of ways a person can commit this crime along with charges that range from petty misdemeanors<\/a> to felonies<\/a>.<\/p>\n A person is obstructing governmental operations if, by using or threatening to use violence or physical force, such person knowingly obstructs:<\/p>\n A person is committing \u2018refusing to aid a peace officer\u2019 if, upon a reasonable command by a person reasonably known to be a peace officer, such person knowingly refuses to aid such peace officer in:<\/p>\n A person who complies with this section by aiding a peace officer shall not be held liable to any person for damages resulting, provided such person acted reasonably under the circumstances known to him\/her at the time.<\/p>\n A \u201cpeace officer\u201d typically refers to an employee of the state, county, or a municipality. This might be a sheriff or other law enforcement whose duties include searches & seizures, arrests, preventing and detecting crime, and executing criminal and civil warrants.<\/p>\n A person commits refusing to assist in fire control if:<\/p>\n “Fireman” means any officer of the fire department, the state forester or his deputies, or any other person vested by law with the duty to extinguish fires.<\/p>\n A person commits compounding if such person knowingly accepts or agrees to accept any financial benefit as consideration for:<\/p>\n Compounding is a class 6 felony if the crime compounded is a felony. If the crime compounded is not a felony, compounding is a class 3 misdemeanor in Arizona.<\/p>\n A person commits impersonating a public servant if:<\/p>\n In this section, “public servant” includes a notary public.<\/p>\n A person commits \u2018tampering with a public record\u2019 if, with the intent to defraud or deceive such person knowingly:<\/p>\n “Public record” means all official books, papers, written instruments, or records created, issued, received or kept by any governmental office or agency or required by law to be kept by others for the information of the government.<\/p>\n A person who knowingly obstructs or hinders a public officer from collecting revenue, taxes, or other money that the officer is authorized to collect by law.<\/p>\n A person commits impersonating a peace officer if:<\/p>\n Impersonating a peace officer is a class 6 felony, except that impersonating a peace officer during any of the following felonies is a class 4 felony:<\/p>\n It is unlawful for a person, after being advised that the person’s refusal to answer is unlawful, to refuse to state their\u00a0true full name on request of a peace officer who has lawfully detained the person. A person detained under this section shall not be compelled to answer any other inquiry of a peace officer.<\/p>\n A person commits obstructing a highway or other public thoroughfare if, having no legal privilege to do so:<\/p>\n A person commits securing the proceeds of an offense if, with intent to assist another in profiting or benefiting from the commission of an offense, such person aids another in securing the proceeds of the offense.<\/p>\n A person who knowingly attempts by means of:<\/p>\n to obstruct, delay, or prevent the testimony relating to a violation of any criminal statute to a peace officer, magistrate, prosecutor, or grand jury or, who retaliates on account of the giving any such information or testimony to a peace officer, magistrate, prosecutor, or grand jury.<\/p>\n The JacksonWhite criminal attorneys will be alongside you throughout the entirety of your case. JacksonWhite criminal defense lawyer, Jeremy Geigle and his team have successfully defended individuals with a variety of charges in Arizona. Rest assured knowing he will do his best to help you get through this difficult and stressful time.<\/p>\nObstructing Governmental Operations<\/a><\/h3>\n
Misdemeanor 1 Charge<\/h3>\n
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Refusing to Aid a Peace Officer<\/a><\/h3>\n
Misdemeanor 1 Charge<\/h3>\n
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Refusing to Assist in Fire Control<\/a><\/h3>\n
Misdemeanor 1 Charge<\/h3>\n
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Compounding<\/a><\/h3>\n
Class 3 Misdemeanor or Class 6 Felony<\/h3>\n
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Impersonating a Public Servant<\/a><\/h3>\n
Misdemeanor 1 Charge<\/h3>\n
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Tampering with a Public Record<\/a><\/h3>\n
Class 6 Felony<\/h3>\n
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Obstructing Officer from Collecting Public Money<\/a><\/h3>\n
Class 2 Misdemeanor<\/h3>\n
Impersonating a Peace Officer<\/a><\/h3>\n
Class 6 or 4 Felony Charge<\/h3>\n
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Refusing to Provide Truthful Name when Lawfully Detained<\/a><\/h3>\n
Class 2 Misdemeanor<\/h3>\n
Obstructing a Highway or Other Public Thoroughfare<\/a><\/h3>\n
Class 3 Misdemeanor<\/h3>\n
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Securing the Proceeds of an Offense<\/a><\/h3>\n
Class 2 Misdemeanor or Class 6 Felony<\/h3>\n
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Obstructing Criminal Investigations or Prosecutions<\/a><\/h3>\n
Class 5 or 3 Felony<\/h3>\n
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How JacksonWhite Can Help You<\/h2>\n