Arizona Criminal Defense Lawyers
Under investigation or charged with a crime in Arizona? Tamou Law Group defends the full range of state and federal charges, DUI, drug, violent, sex, theft, and white collar crimes, at every stage from investigation through trial. The earlier we are involved, the more we can do. Do not talk to police before you call us.
Recognized By
As Seen On
Our Team Has SeenBoth Sides
Former Prosecutors · Law Enforcement · Public Defenders
When you call Tamou Law Group, you reach a firm that handles criminal defense exclusively, across every charge from DUI to homicide, in courts throughout Arizona. Our team includes former prosecutors who built these cases and law enforcement officers who investigated them, so we know exactly how the State thinks, and where its cases break down.
At many large firms, the name on the building is a marketing figurehead, you will rarely get them on the phone and your case is handed to a junior associate. When you hire Tamou Law Group, your case is handled by a full team of attorneys, not associates, including Michael Tamou. Call 623-321-4699 for a free, confidential consultation, 24/7.
What Does an Arizona Criminal Defense Lawyer Do?
Quick answer: A criminal defense lawyer protects your rights and your freedom from the moment you are investigated through trial and appeal. Tamou Law Group defends the full range of Arizona charges, DUI, drug, violent, domestic violence, sex, theft and property, and white collar crimes, in both state and federal court. Arizona grades felonies Class 1 (most serious) to Class 6, and many offenses carry mandatory or flat-time prison. The single most important thing you can do is get a lawyer involved early, often before charges are filed.
Key Takeaways
- We defend every Arizona criminal charge, DUI, drugs, violent crimes, domestic violence, sex crimes, theft and property crimes, and white collar, in state and federal court.
- Arizona felonies run Class 1 (murder) to Class 6; misdemeanors are Class 1–3. The class drives your exposure.
- Many charges carry mandatory or flat-time prison (“dangerous offenses,” crimes against children), so fighting the charge level is critical.
- The investigation / pre-charge window is often where cases are won, sometimes before any charge is filed.
- We handle every stage: diversion, plea negotiation, suppression motions, trial, and appeal.
- Our team includes former prosecutors and law enforcement officers who know how the State builds a case.
- Your case is handled by a full team of attorneys, not associates, including Michael Tamou, available 24/7 at 623-321-4699.
Recognized By
Act Early
Under Investigation?
The time before charges are filed is often the most important, and most winnable, stage. Do not talk to detectives or turn over anything. Call us first.
Call 623-321-4699 →Your Rights
Just Arrested?
You have the right to remain silent and to a lawyer, use them. Politely decline to answer questions and call us before any interview or statement.
See Practice Areas →Every Charge
Misdemeanor or Felony
From a first DUI to a serious felony, we defend the full range of Arizona charges in state and federal court, and at every stage of the case.
CALL NOWArizona Criminal Defense Practice Areas
Whatever you are facing, choose your charge below for a complete guide, or call us 24/7 for a free, confidential consultation.
DUI Defense
First Offense to Aggravated
Standard, extreme, aggravated, drug, and fatal DUI. The stop and the testing are where these cases are won.
Learn More →Drug Crimes
Possession to Sales
Possession, paraphernalia, sales, and trafficking of drugs and marijuana, with diversion options for many cases.
Learn More →Violent Crimes
Assault to Homicide
Assault, aggravated assault, robbery, and weapons charges, many of them ‘dangerous’ felonies with flat time.
Learn More →Homicide & Manslaughter
Negligent Homicide to Murder
Vehicular and intentional killings, from negligent homicide and manslaughter to first- and second-degree murder.
Learn More →Domestic Violence
A.R.S. 13-3601
DV charges that carry a firearm ban, no-contact orders, and counseling, often built on a single, one-sided account.
Learn More →Sex Crimes
Discreet, Aggressive Defense
Sexual abuse, assault, and related charges, among the most serious in Arizona, defended with discretion and force.
Learn More →Theft Crimes
Shoplifting to Robbery
Theft, shoplifting, burglary, robbery, and stolen property, graded by value, with diversion for many first offenses.
Learn More →Property Crimes
Damage, Trespass & Arson
Criminal damage, vandalism, criminal trespass, burglary, and arson, graded by value and the type of property.
Learn More →White Collar & Fraud
Fraud, Embezzlement & Laundering
Fraudulent schemes, theft, money laundering, and identity theft, often defended before charges are even filed.
Learn More →Vehicular Crimes
DUI, Reckless & Hit-and-Run
DUI, reckless driving, hit-and-run, and fatal-crash charges, where a vehicle becomes a ‘dangerous instrument.’
Learn More →Aggravated Assault
A.R.S. 13-1204
Assault with a weapon, serious injury, or a protected victim, a dangerous felony, often defended as self-defense.
Learn More →Probation Violations
Petition to Revoke
Violation hearings where a judge can impose your original sentence, we fight for reinstatement, not revocation.
Learn More →Do not see your charge, or not sure what you are facing? Call now, we defend it all.
CALL 623-321-4699How an Arizona Criminal Case Works
Understanding the system, and where the leverage is, is the first step to protecting yourself. Statutes link to azleg.gov.
Felonies, Misdemeanors & Sentencing
Arizona grades crimes from petty offenses and Class 1–3 misdemeanors up through Class 6 to Class 1 felonies, with Class 1 reserved for murder. Felony sentences follow a structured range (mitigated, minimum, presumptive, maximum) under A.R.S. § 13-702, and prior convictions raise that range substantially. Many offenses also carry mandatory or flat-time prison.
“Dangerous Offenses” & Crimes Against Children
When a crime involves a deadly weapon or serious physical injury, it becomes a dangerous offense (A.R.S. § 13-704), removing probation and requiring day-for-day prison. Certain offenses against a child under 15 are charged as Dangerous Crimes Against Children (A.R.S. § 13-705), with long, often consecutive terms. Defeating these designations is frequently the heart of the defense.
State vs. Federal Court
Most Arizona charges are prosecuted in state court by a County Attorney or the Attorney General, but some conduct, drug trafficking, large-scale fraud, firearms, can be charged federally, with different procedures and tougher sentencing guidelines. We assess and defend exposure on both fronts.
Your Constitutional Rights
You have the right to remain silent, to refuse consent to searches, and to a lawyer. Evidence obtained through an unlawful stop, search, or interrogation, or without a valid Miranda warning, can be suppressed, sometimes ending the case. Asserting these rights early is one of the most powerful things you can do.
Diversion, Plea & Trial
Cases resolve in several ways: diversion (completing a program for a dismissal, common for first-time and lower-level offenses), a negotiated plea to reduced charges, or trial. We prepare every case as if it is going to trial, because that readiness is what produces the best diversions and pleas, and protects you if the State will not be fair.
Arizona Felony Classes & Exposure
The felony class drives your exposure. These are first-offense, non-dangerous presumptive terms, priors and ‘dangerous’ designations raise them sharply.
| Class | Examples | Presumptive / Exposure |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 Felony | First- & second-degree murder | Life or the death penalty / 10–25 yrs |
| Class 2 Felony | Manslaughter, armed robbery, fraud schemes, drug sales | 5 years (3–12.5) |
| Class 3 Felony | Aggravated assault, burglary 2nd, vehicle theft | 3.5 years (2–8.75) |
| Class 4 Felony | Aggravated DUI, identity theft, drug possession (some) | 2.5 years (1–3.75) |
| Class 5 Felony | Unlawful flight, some thefts, threatening | 1.5 years (0.5–2.5) |
| Class 6 Felony | Possession, trespass 1st, low-level theft | 1 year (0.33–2) |
| Class 1 Misdemeanor | DUI, assault, shoplifting, disorderly conduct | Up to 6 months jail |
Moving a charge down even one class, or off a ‘dangerous’ designation, can mean years of difference. That is the core of what we do.
How We Defend Every Case
No matter the charge, strong defenses share the same foundations, attacking the State’s evidence, its procedure, and its theory.
Attacking the State’s Case
Unlawful Stop, Search & Seizure. Evidence from an illegal stop, search, or warrant can be suppressed, often gutting the case.
Miranda & Statement Violations. Admissions obtained without a valid warning, or after you asked for a lawyer, can be thrown out.
Insufficient Evidence. The State must prove every element beyond a reasonable doubt, we hold it to that on each one.
Faulty Forensics. Breath and blood tests, drug analysis, DNA, and reconstructions are all challengeable by independent experts.
Affirmative Defenses & Mitigation
Self-Defense & Justification. In violent cases, justified force is a complete defense the State must disprove.
Lack of Intent. Most crimes require a culpable mental state, accident, mistake, or good faith can defeat the charge.
Mistaken Identity & False Allegations. Common in domestic, sex, and theft cases, where motive and unreliable identification undermine the State.
Diversion & Mitigation. For eligible cases, we secure diversion ending in dismissal, or build the mitigation that keeps you out of prison.
After reviewing your case, we will explain which defenses apply and the best path forward.
CALL 623-321-4699The Experts We Bring to the Table
The State builds cases with crime labs, forensic analysts, and police testimony. We answer with the same caliber of specialists.
Forensic Toxicologists
Blood, Breath & Drugs
Challenge BAC and drug results, lab protocol, and whether the science actually proves impairment or the alleged amount.
DNA & Crime-Lab Experts
Forensic Evidence
Audit DNA, fingerprint, and trace evidence and the lab procedures behind them, where errors and contamination are common.
Video & Digital Forensics
Footage & Devices
Recover and analyze surveillance, body-cam, and device data that often contradicts the State’s narrative.
Eyewitness-ID Experts
Identification
Expose the well-documented unreliability of eyewitness identification, a leading cause of wrongful convictions.
Accident & Scene Reconstructionists
What Really Happened
Independently reconstruct crashes and crime scenes, frequently reaching conclusions opposite the police report.
Mitigation Specialists
Diversion & Sentencing
Build the personal, treatment, and restitution case that wins diversion and keeps clients out of prison.
The Arizona Criminal Case Process
Knowing the stages, and where we add the most value, helps you understand what comes next.
Investigation
Cases often begin before any arrest. If you are contacted by police or get a target letter, we step in early, sometimes heading off charges entirely.
Arrest & Initial Appearance
After an arrest, the court sets release conditions. We fight for the lowest possible bond and the fewest restrictions on your life.
Charging & Arraignment
The State files charges and must disclose its evidence. We obtain everything and start building the defense immediately.
Motions & Investigation
We file motions to suppress unlawful evidence, retain experts, and investigate, the work that wins cases before trial.
Plea, Diversion or Trial
We negotiate from strength, for a dismissal, diversion, or a reduced plea, and take the case to trial when that is the right call.
Sentencing & Appeal
If it comes to sentencing, we present compelling mitigation, and we protect your right to appeal an unjust result.
Areas We Serve
Tamou Law Group defends criminal cases across Maricopa County and all of Arizona.
We represent clients in Phoenix, Scottsdale, Mesa, Tempe, Chandler, Gilbert, Glendale, Peoria, Surprise, Goodyear, Avondale, and throughout Maricopa County, with representation available statewide and in federal court. Call 623-321-4699 for a free, confidential consultation, 24/7.
A Full Team of Attorneys, Not Associates
The single biggest factor in your defense is who actually handles your case, and how hard they fight it.
At many large firms, the name on the building is a marketing figurehead. You may never get them on the phone, and your case is handed to a rotating junior associate who has never tried a case like yours. At Tamou Law Group, your defense is handled by a full team of experienced attorneys, not junior associates, including founding attorney Michael Tamou. The same senior team handles your calls, your strategy, and your court dates.
Our reputation is built on results and on our clients’ words, a 5.0-star Google rating from people we have actually defended. Read them in the reviews below.
What Clients Say About Tamou Law
Real Google reviews from clients we have defended across Phoenix and Maricopa County. Every review is from a criminal defense client, never padded with non-legal work.
Clients reach us searching in many ways, for the best criminal defense lawyer in Arizona, for a Phoenix criminal attorney, or for help with a specific DUI, drug, violent, or theft charge. However you found us, Tamou Law Group defends criminal cases across Phoenix, Scottsdale, Mesa, Tempe, Chandler, Gilbert, Glendale, Peoria, and all of Maricopa County, with representation statewide and in federal court. Call 623-321-4699 for a free, confidential consultation, 24/7.
Arizona Criminal Defense FAQs
Common questions about charges, your rights, the process, and defenses in Arizona.
What types of criminal cases does Tamou Law Group handle?
We handle the full range of Arizona criminal charges, DUI, drug crimes, violent crimes, homicide, domestic violence, sex crimes, theft and property crimes, white collar and fraud, weapons charges, and probation violations, in both state and federal court.
Should I talk to the police if I’m being investigated?
No. You have the right to remain silent and to a lawyer, use them. Politely decline to answer questions and do not consent to searches. Contact a defense attorney before any interview, what you say is one of the most common ways the State builds its case.
What is the difference between a felony and a misdemeanor in Arizona?
Misdemeanors (Class 1-3) carry up to six months in jail. Felonies (Class 6 up to Class 1) carry prison and a permanent record, with Class 1 reserved for murder. The class drives your exposure, and reducing it is often the central goal.
Can a criminal charge be dismissed or reduced?
Often, yes. Through suppression motions, attacking the evidence, diversion programs, and negotiation, charges are frequently dismissed, reduced, or resolved without a conviction. Each case turns on its facts, which is why an early case review matters.
What is diversion and am I eligible?
Diversion is a program (classes, counseling, restitution) that, once completed, results in a dismissal with no conviction. It is common for first-time and lower-level offenses, like shoplifting, minor drug, and some DUI-adjacent cases. We push for it wherever possible.
How much does a criminal defense lawyer cost?
It depends on the charge and complexity. We offer a free, confidential consultation to review your case and explain fees up front, with no surprises. The cost of skilled defense is almost always far less than the cost of a conviction.
Do you handle federal criminal cases?
Yes. Some conduct, large-scale drug, fraud, and firearms cases, can be charged in federal court, which has different procedures and tougher guidelines. We assess and defend exposure in both state and federal court.
When should I hire a criminal defense lawyer?
As early as possible, ideally the moment you are investigated, contacted by police, or arrested. The pre-charge window is often where cases are won, and early involvement preserves evidence and options that disappear quickly.
What happens at an arraignment?
At arraignment you are formally advised of the charges and enter a plea (usually not guilty), and the court addresses release conditions. We appear with you, protect your rights, and begin obtaining the State’s evidence right away.
Will a conviction stay on my record forever?
A conviction generally remains on your record, though Arizona allows certain convictions to be ‘set aside’ and some records to be sealed. The surest protection is avoiding the conviction in the first place, which is our focus from day one.
Will I get a real attorney or a junior associate?
At many large firms the name on the door is a marketing figurehead and your case goes to a rotating associate. At Tamou Law Group your defense is handled by a full team of experienced attorneys, not associates, including founding attorney Michael Tamou. Call 623-321-4699, 24/7.
Two Arizona Offices, One Team
We serve all of Maricopa County and the surrounding area, with free, confidential consultations 24/7 by phone and in-person meetings at either office by appointment.
Case Results Disclaimer: The results described on this page are based on specific facts and circumstances and do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome in any future case. Every case is different. Past results do not guarantee future results. No attorney-client relationship is formed by viewing this page or submitting a contact form until a written fee agreement has been signed. Tamou Law Group, PLLC is licensed to practice law in the State of Arizona. This website is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.