ARS 13-3703: Abuse of venerated objects
The complete text of A.R.S. § 13-3703 on abuse of venerated objects, what the State has to prove, and the sentencing range, with a violation charged as a class 2 misdemeanor and exposure reaching up to 4 months in jail.
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What the State Must Prove Under § 13-3703
A.R.S. § 13-3703 is the Arizona statute on abuse of venerated objects. The statute sets out 2 ways the offense can be committed. A violation is a class 2 misdemeanor, depending on the paragraph charged and what the State can prove. The maximum exposure is 4 months in jail.
A. A person commits abuse of venerated objects by intentionally:
- Desecrating any public monument, memorial or property of a public park; or
- In any manner likely to provoke immediate physical retaliation:
The State must prove every element of the paragraph it actually charged, beyond a reasonable doubt. Which paragraph appears on the complaint decides what the case is about, and it is the first thing to check.
Penalties for a § 13-3703 Conviction
| Class | Maximum jail | Maximum fine |
|---|---|---|
| Class 2 misdemeanor | 4 months | $750 |
Felony ranges are set by A.R.S. § 13-702(D) and apply to a first felony conviction that is not dangerous and not repetitive. A dangerous offense (§ 13-704), a repetitive offense (§ 13-703) or a dangerous crime against children (§ 13-705) carries a longer range, and some carry mandatory prison with no probation. Misdemeanor maximums come from §§ 13-707 and 13-802; surcharges are added on top of every fine.
Full Text of A.R.S. § 13-3703
A. A person commits abuse of venerated objects by intentionally:
1. Desecrating any public monument, memorial or property of a public park; or
2. In any manner likely to provoke immediate physical retaliation:
(a) Exhibiting or displaying, placing or causing to be placed any word, figure, mark, picture, design, drawing or advertisement of any nature upon a flag or exposing or causing to be exposed to public view a flag upon which there is printed, painted or otherwise produced or to which there is attached, appended or annexed any word, figure, mark, picture, design, drawing or advertisement; or
(b) Exposing to public view, manufacturing, selling, offering to sell, giving or having in possession for any purpose any article of merchandise or receptacle for holding or carrying merchandise upon or to which there is printed, painted, placed or attached any flag in order to advertise, call attention to, decorate, mark or distinguish the article or substance; or
(c) Casting contempt upon, mutilating, defacing, defiling, burning, trampling or otherwise dishonoring or causing to bring dishonor upon a flag.
B. The provisions of this section shall not apply to:
1. Any act permitted by a statute of the United States; or
2. Any act permitted by United States military regulations; or
3. Any act where the United States government has granted permission for the use of such flag; or
4. A newspaper, periodical, book, pamphlet, circular, certificate, diploma, warrant, commission of appointment to office, ornament, picture, badge or stationery on which shall be printed, painted or placed such flag and which is disconnected from any advertisement for the purpose of sale, barter or trade.
C. For the purposes of this section:
1. “Desecrate” means defacing, damaging, polluting or otherwise doing a physical act in a manner likely to provoke immediate physical retaliation.
2. “Flag” means any emblem, banner or other symbol, of any size, composed of any substance or represented on any substance that evidently purports to be the flag of the United States or of this state.
D. Abuse of venerated objects is a class 2 misdemeanor.
Source: Arizona Revised Statutes § 13-3703, Arizona Legislative Council revision of 09/19/25. Read the official text on azleg.gov. Statutes change; verify the current version before relying on it.
Related Statutes in Chapter 37 — Miscellaneous Offenses
- A.R.S. § 13-3702 — Defacing or damaging petroglyphs, pictographs, caves or caverns
- A.R.S. § 13-3702.01 — Excavating certain sites
- A.R.S. § 13-3704 — Adding poison or other harmful substance to food, drink or medicine
- A.R.S. § 13-3701 — Unlawful use of food stamps
- A.R.S. § 13-3705 — Unlawful copying or sale of sounds or images from recording devices
- A.R.S. § 13-3706 — Failure to procure or exhibit a business license
- A.R.S. § 13-3707 — Telecommunication fraud
- A.R.S. § 13-3708 — Sale or transfer of motor vehicle
How Tamou Law Group Defends § 13-3703 Cases
A § 13-3703 case is decided by the paragraph the State charged, not by the statute as a whole. We start with the charging document and the disclosure, identify which subsection the prosecutor has to prove, and test whether the evidence actually reaches every element of it. Where the class turns on a fact such as value, an alleged injury, a prior conviction or the identity of the person involved, that fact is frequently the difference between a class 2 misdemeanor and something far less serious, and it is where these cases are won.
We handle abuse of venerated objects cases across Maricopa County and statewide, from our Scottsdale and Phoenix offices. Call 623-321-4699 any time, or read the statute in full above before you speak to anyone about the case.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is A.R.S. § 13-3703?
A.R.S. § 13-3703 is the Arizona statute on abuse of venerated objects. A violation is a class 2 misdemeanor, and which class applies depends on the paragraph charged and the facts the State can prove.
Is a violation of § 13-3703 a felony in Arizona?
No. Under the statute a violation is a class 2 misdemeanor, so the exposure reaches up to 4 months in jail. The paragraph charged and the facts decide which class applies.
What is the maximum penalty for a class 2 misdemeanor?
A.R.S. 13-707 caps jail at 4 months for a class 2 misdemeanor and A.R.S. 13-802 caps the fine at $750, before surcharges. A judge may also impose probation and other conditions.
Where can I read the official text of § 13-3703?
The Arizona Legislature publishes it at azleg.gov, in the revision dated 09/19/25. The complete text is reproduced on this page, and every Arizona criminal statute is searchable on our Arizona Criminal Code index.
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