Criminal Damage is by far one of the most misunderstood and unfairly applied domestic violence laws in Arizona. Although one might think that you can punch a hole in your own wall or break the remote control for a television you purchased with your own hard earned money, criminal damage law allows the prosecution to nevertheless charge you with criminal damage so long as some other person has some interest in the property. For example, if an individual is married and buys a telephone with the earnings from his job, he can be charged with criminal damage if he throws the phone across the room and breaks it because the phone is technically classified as community property in which his spouse has an ownership interest. Other common situations involve individuals who agree to take over monthly car payments or rental payments on behalf of another person. So long as the deed or lease lists the victim’s name, criminal damage charges can, and usually will be filed if damage is caused to that property. Even if the “victim” later wishes to drop charges, the prosecution rarely, if ever, grants that request. Imagine the injustice in being branded a domestic violence offender for breaking your own property! The unfortunate reality is that it happens every day in Phoenix. Depending on the amount of damage caused, the criminal damage charge can be filed as either a felony or a misdemeanor.
Arizona Domestic Violence law is complicated. You should have a seasoned Domestic Violence Criminal Damage Attorney in your corner to help you navigate your way to a successful resolution of your case.
Phoenix Criminal Damage Lawyer – Joshua S. Davidson
If you or a loved one has been charged with a domestic violence criminal damage offense in Phoenix or Scottsdale, Arizona, you need an aggressive former felony domestic violence prosecutor at your side. The stakes are too high to settle for second best when charged with any domestic violence offense. Domestic Violence Attorney Joshua S. Davidson understands how important your case is to you and will put his experience to work for you and maximize your chances of a dismissal or acquittal.
