It is critical not to underestimate the effect that arson charges could have on your life and future. An arson conviction could take away your freedom, rights and certain civil liberties. If you are convicted of a felony, for example, this could affect your ability to find housing and a job after you complete your sentence. It is important to hire a lawyer to help you build the strongest possible defense against arson charges.
Common defenses to arson cases can include:
Lack of required mental state – proving mental incapacity or lack of intent to start a fire could protect you from the most serious penalties associated with arson charges.
Lawfulness of conduct – evidence that the conduct described does not fit the statutory definition of arson, and that your conduct was therefore lawful.
Attacking the state’s forensic science evidence – arguing inaccurate or improperly obtained forensic evidence to show that the prosecution has not met its burden of proof.
Impossibility of claim or mistaken identity – proof that the state’s claim is impossible based on the timeline or other evidence, or evidence of mistaken identity (such as an alibi) or false accusation.
Violation of your constitutional rights – law enforcement violated your constitutional rights, acted illegally in obtaining evidence or committed police misconduct, resulting in the suppression of related evidence.
In some scenarios, it may be possible to negotiate arson charges down to a lesser crime, such as reckless burning, to avoid the most serious penalties. At AZ Defenders, our criminal defense attorneys can provide top-level legal protection during interviews with law enforcement officers or investigators from the very beginning of your arson case.
We will conduct an in-depth review of the case against you to identify weaknesses in the prosecutor’s case that we can exploit for your defense. Then, we will use our access to forensic investigators and other professionals to present strong evidence. Our arson and criminal damage attorney in Phoenix will treat your case with the attention that it deserves while showing you respect and compassion as our client.