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Reducing a Class 6 Undesignated Felony to a Misdemeanor

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MayesTelles Represents Client Facing 4 Felony Counts

The Phoenix criminal defense lawyers at MayesTelles PLLC represented an individual who was facing four fraud and theft related felony counts.

At MayesTelles, we believe that no case is ever too large or too small. When someone has been criminally accused, that matters, and it matters a lot. A criminal conviction of any magnitude has the ability to change a person’s life. On top of criminal consequences, there are also collateral consequences that can plague an individual for the remainder of their life.

We recently represented an individual, we’ll call this individual “Ms. D,” who was facing four, fraud and theft related felony counts:

  • Two Counts of Forgery, a Class 4 Felony
  • One Count of Theft, a Class 2 Felony
  • One Count of Fraudulent Schemes and Artifices, a Class 2 Felony

This case was handled this month in Maricopa County Superior Court, and we are proud to be able to say that our firm got our client’s charges reduced to just one, Class 6 Undesignated Felony with the opportunity to reduce further to a misdemeanor.

What is an undesignated felony?

In Maricopa County, the court allows for the possibility of reducing a Class 6 undesignated felony to a misdemeanor. What is an undesignated felony? It means that the offense has not yet been designated a felony conviction. The designation remains in a suspended state with the possibility of future designation as a misdemeanor.

Why issue an undesignated felony?

Some judges in Maricopa County issue Class 6 undesignated felonies to incentivize the defendant to successfully complete probation. Upon successful completion of the terms of probation, a defendant who has been issued a Class 6 undesignated felony may qualify for a reduction of the offense to a misdemeanor.

Why go to the trouble?

Why should a defendant go to the trouble of successfully completing probation after receiving a Class 6 undesignated felony? It’s pretty simple. Having a felony conviction on your record is much worse than having a misdemeanor on your record. Felony sentences are much harsher, and the collateral consequences for felony offenders much more severe.

Who is eligible for reducing a Class 6 Undesignated Felony to a Misdemeanor?

You may be eligible for 6-Open relief in Maricopa County, Arizona if:

  1. The felony of which you were convicted was left undesignated
  2. Prior to this case, you did not have two other felony convictions on your record
  3. The felony in question did not involve intentionally/knowingly inflicting serious injury to another
  4. The felony in question did not involve the use of a deadly weapon

This PDF contains everything you need to know about applying to reduce your Class 6 Undesignated Felony to a Misdemeanor in Maricopa County. If you or someone you love is facing a felony charge or charges, we invite you to contact our Phoenix criminal lawyers today for a free review of your case so you can learn your legal rights and options.

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