A Class 1 Misdemeanor misconduct charge at Glendale City Court carried 180 days of jail exposure and a heavy fine ceiling. Future First negotiated a two-class reduction to a Class 3 Misdemeanor facilitation count with no jail and unsupervised probation.

At a glance

Court	Glendale City Court
Original charge	Misconduct charge, Class 1 Misdemeanor
Presumptive exposure	Up to 180 days jail, up to $2,500 fine plus 78% surcharge, up to 3 years probation, permanent criminal record affecting employment, housing, and licensing
Result	State amended lead charge down two full classes to Class 3 Misdemeanor facilitation count under ARS §§ 13-3214 and 13-1004; plea with 12 months unsupervised probation, $890 fine plus $70 time payment fee (on payment plan), no jail, no counseling
Eligibility for set aside	After probation discharge in September 2024 under ARS § 13-905
Eligibility for sealing	Approximately 2026 under ARS § 13-911, two years after sentence completion under the Class 3 Misdemeanor wait

The stakes

The client faced a Class 1 Misdemeanor misconduct charge at Glendale City Court. A C1M conviction in Arizona carries up to 180 days jail, up to $2,500 fine plus surcharges, up to 3 years probation, and a permanent criminal record affecting employment, housing, and licensing.

What we did

After Future First negotiated the plea, the State amended the lead charge down two full classes to a Class 3 Misdemeanor facilitation count under ARS §§ 13-3214 and 13-1004. The client pled to the Class 3 Misdemeanor with 12 months unsupervised probation, $890 fine plus $70 time payment fee (on payment plan), no jail, and no counseling.

The firm pulled the case out of the Class 1 Misdemeanor tier entirely, saving the client 150 days of jail exposure and substantial fines. Set aside under ARS § 13-905 is eligible after probation discharge in September 2024. Sealing records under ARS § 13-911 is eligible approximately 2026, two years after sentence completion under the Class 3 Misdemeanor wait.

What our clients say

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If you’re facing a Class 1 Misdemeanor charge in Arizona

Arizona’s facilitation statute under ARS § 13-1004 covers conduct that aids another person in committing an offense, with the offense substituted in for the underlying conduct. Facilitation is one class lower than the underlying offense itself, which means a facilitation count can produce a lower-tier resolution than the lead charge would on its own. When the State agrees to amend a Class 1 Misdemeanor down to a Class 3 Misdemeanor facilitation count, the practical penalty drop is substantial: jail exposure from 180 days to 30 days, fine cap from $2,500 to $500, and the sealing wait shortens from 3 years to 2 years.

Two-class charge reductions are uncommon. Most negotiation paths in Arizona misdemeanor cases produce single-class reductions or diversion. Getting the State to agree to a two-class drop usually requires defense work that identifies real proof problems on the lead charge and the right factual fit for the lower charge.

Future First Criminal Law has handled multi-class charge reductions across Maricopa County and Arizona. We know how Glendale City Court and other municipal courts evaluate amendment requests, and how to structure a plea that drops the charge more than one class.

Related resources

Arizona criminal defense — full overview of how we handle misdemeanor and felony charges
Set aside and sealing in Arizona — how to clean up your record after a misdemeanor conviction

Call us

Facing a misdemeanor charge in Arizona? Call Future First Criminal Law at 602-900-7625 or request a free consultation. We have handled hundreds of misdemeanor cases across Arizona. The earlier we are involved, the more options you have for charge reductions.

Anonymized in line with firm policy. Client name not used. Specific dates approximated to year only. Outcome described reflects this client’s actual results. Past outcomes do not guarantee future results. For more detailed information on Arizona criminal law, visit the Arizona State Legislature website.