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When Your Future Is on the Line,
WE HAVE YOUR BACK. We Live Here. We Fight For You Here.
Arizona's #1 Criminal Defense Firm — Seven Consecutive Years. 200+ Years of Combined Experience.
  • Voted #1 by Ranking Arizona
    Voted #1 by Ranking Arizona
    #1 Criminal Defense Firm · 7 Consecutive Years
  • AV Preeminent®
    AV Preeminent®

    J. Blake Mayes · Highest peer rating · Since 2009

  • Former Prosecutors
    Former Prosecutors

    MCAO · DEA · Secret Service · U.S. Air Force

  • Top 100 Trial Lawyers
    Top 100 Trial Lawyers
    Both founding partners · Invite only
  • Super Lawyers
    Super Lawyers
    J. Blake Mayes · 2026 + Rising Stars 2015–18
  • Lead Counsel Verified
    Lead Counsel Verified
    J. Blake Mayes
  • America's Top 100®
    America's Top 100®

    J. Blake Mayes · Fewer than 0.5% of U.S. attorneys

  • Nation's Premier Top 10
    Nation's Premier Top 10
    J. Blake Mayes · NAOPIA 2026

Phoenix Criminal Defense Attorneys

Voted #1 By Ranking Arizona. Former Prosecutors. Proven Results.

A criminal charge can upend your life in hours. The attorney you choose in the days that follow determines what happens next. At MayesTelles PLLC, our Phoenix criminal defense attorneys include founding partner David V. Telles — a former Maricopa County Attorney’s Office sex crimes prosecutor, former DEA Narcotics Task Force member, and U.S. Air Force veteran — and founding partner J. Blake Mayes, who clerked for U.S. District Court Judge Earl H. Carroll before building a defense practice spanning more than a thousand criminal cases across Phoenix, Maricopa County, and Arizona.

We defend individuals accused of serious felonies and misdemeanors throughout Arizona, including sex crimes, drug crimes, DUI, domestic violence, violent crimes, white collar offenses, and federal charges. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, because we know that arrests happen on law enforcement’s schedule, not yours.

Call our Phoenix criminal defense lawyers at (602) 428-7104 for a free, confidential consultation. Available 24/7.

Former Prosecutors Fighting on Your Side

Most Phoenix criminal defense firms say they have "former prosecutor experience." At MayesTelles PLLC, that experience is specific, documented, and directly relevant to the cases we defend. Our team of former prosecutors includes:

David V. Telles — Former MCAO Sex Crimes Unit Prosecutor

Before co-founding MayesTelles PLLC, Telles prosecuted sex crimes cases at the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office and served as a prosecutor at the Pima and Cochise County Attorney’s Offices. His law enforcement background includes the DEA Narcotics Interdiction Task Force, the U.S. Secret Service, and the U.S. Air Force Anti-Terrorist Unit. He clerked for U.S. Magistrate Judge Bernardo P. Velasco in the District of Arizona before entering prosecution.

James Simpson — Former Prosecutor, Multiple State and County Agencies

Attorney Simpson served as a prosecutor across several state and county agencies before joining MayesTelles PLLC. He applies prosecution-side knowledge to identify weaknesses in the State’s case that less experienced defense attorneys overlook. A client facing a decade-plus prison sentence was resolved to probation under his representation.

Mark Mendoza & Melanie Laboy — Former Prosecutors

Each brings prosecution-side experience to the criminal defense team at MayesTelles, including familiarity with Maricopa County courts, prosecutors, and judges developed from years working inside the system.

Former prosecutors know how charging decisions are made, which evidence a jury actually weighs, and when to fight versus when to negotiate. That judgment — built from years on the other side — is the most concrete advantage a criminal defense attorney can offer.

 

Practice Areas

We've Won Thousands of Cases

From complete case dismissals in Dangerous Crimes Against Children matters to DUI charges dropped to reckless driving — here is a sample of what our attorneys have achieved for clients across Phoenix and Arizona.

  • 4 Counts of Aggravated DUI Dismissed

    Client M.W. was charged with 4 counts of Aggravated DUI in the Maricopa County Superior Court in July 2016 for allegedly riding a motorized bicycle under the influence. The attorneys at MayesTelles demanded that the State include certain materials in their presentation to the grand jury, resulting in the grand jury refusing to indict and the case being dismissed.

  • Administrative Charges of Abuse of a Vulnerable Adult

    Client, J.B., faced Administrative Charges of Abuse of a Vulnerable Adult. The charges were found to be unsubstantiated after a hearing.

  • Aggravated Assault (Felony 3)

    MayesTelles represented a client charged with Aggravated Assault, a Felony 3 in Arizona. A jury voted our client "not guilty" at trial.

  • Aggravated Assault (Felony 6)

    Our client was charged with Felony 6 Aggravated Assault. We were able to get our client's felony reduced to a misdemeanor.

  • Armed Robbery (Felony 2)

    We were able to achieve a complete case dismissal for our client who was facing the second degree felony of Armed Robbery.

  • Assisting a Criminal Syndicate (Felony 4)

    We were able to achieve a case dismissal for a client charged with the 4th degree felony of Assisting a Criminal Syndicate.

Why Choose MayesTelles PLLC?

Our founding partners bring something most Phoenix firms cannot match: prosecution-side experience from inside Maricopa County's most serious cases.

  • 200+ Years of Combined Experience
    Experience spanning criminal defense, personal injury & immigration
  • MÁS DE 200 AÑOS DE EXPERIENCIA COMBINADA
  • AV Preeminent® · J. Blake Mayes

    Martindale-Hubbell® highest peer rating · Since 2009

  • Former Prosecutors & Law Enforcement

    MCAO Sex Crimes Unit · DEA · Secret Service · U.S. Air Force

  • Available 24/7 — including weekends & holidays

    We pick up. Pre-charge intervention available from the first call.

  • Top 100 Trial Lawyers — both founding partners

    The National Trial Lawyers · Invite only · Mayes & Telles

Why Experience Changes Everything

At MayesTelles, we know that most people facing a legal matter have never been in this situation before. They're frightened, they don't know the system, and they need attorneys who do — whether the case is criminal, a personal injury claim, or an immigration matter. Hear from founding partners J. Blake Mayes and David V. Telles on how MayesTelles approaches criminal defense — and why former prosecution experience changes outcomes.

Lawyers Who Listen

The Benefits of a Former Prosecutor on Your Side

When a former prosecutor reviews your case, they are not guessing how the other side thinks — they know. David V. Telles, Mark Mendoza, Melanie Laboy, and James Simpson each spent years inside the system that now prosecutes the cases they defend. That firsthand knowledge of Maricopa County courts, prosecutors, and judges is the advantage you get when you hire MayesTelles.

"Deciding to work with David Telles was one of the best decisions of my life. He made sure to be extremely thorough before making any decisions and was dedicated to helping me from the beginning." — Scott W., MayesTelles PLLC Client

Contact a Criminal Defense Lawyer in Phoenix, AZ

If you have recently been arrested, are under investigation, or have been accused of any criminal offense in Phoenix or anywhere in Arizona, contact MayesTelles PLLC immediately. The earlier an attorney is involved, the more options are available — including pre-charge intervention before any arrest occurs. Our attorneys are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We offer flexible payment plans and a free, confidential case evaluation.

We serve clients in Phoenix, Mesa, Scottsdale, Tempe, Gilbert, Glendale, Chandler, Prescott, and throughout Maricopa County and Arizona.

(602) 428-7104  |  Free Consultation  |  Available 24/7  |  100% Confidential  |  Flexible Payment Plans

    "I would recommend them 1,000%"
    The entire staff was so kind and nobody treated me any different because of my past! There are no words I can give you to thank you for what your company has done for me!! Thank you so much!
    - K.H.
    "Only Pick MayesTelles"
    I sure hope to never get in trouble again but when I did I put my money and trust in MayesTelles. Not only do they listen, they CARE! As if it was them in my shoes! They don't judge you or make you feel uncomfortable and you can sit back and relax.
    - L. M.
    "Put My Mind at Ease"
    I never thought I would be someone needing a criminal lawyer. Choosing Mayes Telles was a great choice which has put my mind at ease. Melanie Laboy has been super responsive to my case and kept me informed during this entire process.
    - E.W.
    "I had a great experience and would definitely recommend David Lish."
    Got myself in some trouble and David Lish pulled me right out. He was really good at making me feel comfortable and helping me understand exactly what was going on with my case. David made my Felony go down to a misdemeanor and allowed me to come home to N
    - Elizabeth
    "Zach Thornley the greatest criminal lawyer at Mayes Telles"
    Zach turned hell to heaven (not guilty) for me and I will never say enough thank you for the fantastic job he did!!!!! Zach thank you
    - SG
    "The Best Lawyer in My Experience"
    David Telles is the best lawyer in my experience. It was a pretty big case, but he handled very professionally. My case was dismissed, I was very happy with the result and I am really thanks to David Telles.
    - Hanna
    "Professional, fair, and successful results for our clients."
    We are often asked what law firm do we see offers excellent advice and successful results for our clients and we tell them Mayes Telles. Blake Mayes, David Telles and Dean Turnbow have had fantastic communication with our office and our clients can't speak
    - Sanctuary Bail Bonds
    "Professional, fair, and successful results for our clients."
    We are often asked what law firm do we see offers excellent advice and successful results for our clients and we tell them Mayes Telles. Blake Mayes, David Telles and Dean Turnbow have had fantastic communication with our office...
    - Sanctuary Bail Bonds

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