The client faced a Maricopa felony narcotic drug charge that carried a presumptive prison term and a permanent felony record. The client is a United States Army veteran. Future First negotiated a resolution built on probation and Veterans Treatment Court, with no prison and no jail.
At a glance
| Court | Maricopa County Superior Court |
| Original charge | Possession or Use of Narcotic Drugs (ARS § 13-3408(A)(1)), Class 4 felony |
| Presumptive exposure | 2.5 years in prison, up to 3.75 years, plus a mandatory fine of not less than $2,000 |
| Result | Amended to Conspiracy to Commit Possession or Use of Narcotic Drugs (Class 4 felony), 2 years supervised probation, Veterans Treatment Court, no prison, no jail |
| Eligibility for set aside | Eligible approximately 2028 |
| Eligibility for sealing | Eligible approximately 2033 |
The stakes
The client, a United States Army veteran, was charged in Maricopa County Superior Court with possession or use of a narcotic drug under ARS § 13-3408(A)(1), a Class 4 felony. A Class 4 felony carries a presumptive 2.5 years in prison and a sentencing range that reaches 3.75 years. It also carries a mandatory fine of not less than $2,000, a permanent felony record, and the loss of the right to vote and the right to possess a firearm.
A narcotic drug conviction surfaces on every background check and closes doors to housing, employment, and licensing. For an older veteran managing his health through the VA, a prison sentence would have cut off the treatment and stability that kept him sober. The charge put both his record and his recovery at risk.
What we did
Future First built the case for treatment over prison. The firm gathered the client’s service record and treatment history, documented his completion of a residential program and his sustained sobriety, and filed a sentencing memorandum that put a full mitigation package in front of the prosecutor and the court. The firm argued that continued care through the VA, not incarceration, protected public safety.
The State amended the charge from possession or use of a narcotic drug to Conspiracy to Commit Possession or Use of Narcotic Drugs, still a Class 4 felony, and agreed to a probation resolution. The court suspended imposition of sentence and placed the client on 2 years of supervised probation with placement in Veterans Treatment Court, a track built around treatment and accountability.
The court imposed no prison and no jail. Monthly financial obligations were set at $25. The client kept his place in VA care and avoided every day of the prison term the charge allowed. Set aside under ARS § 13-905 is available after probation is complete and the court discharges the case, eligible approximately 2028. Arrest and conviction record sealing under ARS § 13-911 is eligible approximately 2033.
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If you’re facing a felony drug charge in Arizona
A Maricopa felony narcotic drug charge is serious, but the charge on the complaint is not the only outcome available. Arizona courts can place a defendant on probation for a Class 4 drug felony when the record supports it. Treatment, sobriety, and a documented plan carry weight with prosecutors and judges.
Veterans Treatment Court is one path. It connects eligible veterans with VA care, structured supervision, and a team focused on recovery rather than incarceration. Other defendants qualify for standard probation or drug treatment tracks. The result depends on the facts, the record, and how the mitigation is presented.
If you are facing a Maricopa felony narcotic drug charge, the work starts early. Documenting treatment, building a mitigation package, and pressing the prosecutor before sentencing is how a prison exposure becomes a probation outcome.
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Call us
Facing a felony drug charge in Arizona? Call Future First Criminal Law at 602-932-7890 or request a free consultation. We build the record that turns a prison exposure into a probation result.
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.