A Class 1 Misdemeanor Assault with a domestic violence designation carried 2 years of probation, mandatory 26-week DV counseling plus a second track, and lifetime federal firearm restriction. Future First negotiated three layers of reduction: class drop to C3M, probation cut to 1 year unsupervised, and removal of one counseling track.
At a glance
| Court | Surprise City Court |
| Original charge | Assault (ARS § 13-1203) with domestic violence designation, Class 1 Misdemeanor |
| Presumptive exposure | Permanent C1M criminal record with DV stripe, 2 years of probation, mandatory 26-week DV counseling, additional treatment track (around $500 extra in fees), federal firearm restrictions under the Lautenberg Amendment |
| Result | State amended charge from C1M Assault down to Class 3 Misdemeanor; probation cut from 2 years to 1 year unsupervised; judge removed one of the two counseling tracks (saving ~$500); 26 weeks of DV counseling completed; clean probation year |
| Eligibility for set aside | After probation completion under ARS § 13-905 |
| Eligibility for sealing | Approximately 2026 under ARS § 13-911, two years after sentence completion (instead of the 3-year C1M wait) |
The stakes
The client faced a Class 1 Misdemeanor Assault charge in Surprise City Court with a domestic violence designation. A C1M DV conviction carries a permanent C1M record with the DV stripe, 2 years of probation as the standard structure, mandatory 26-week DV counseling, additional treatment tracks at the prosecutor’s request, $500+ in extra counseling fees, and federal firearm restrictions that follow a DV misdemeanor conviction for life.
What we did
Future First negotiated the case down on three fronts: charge class reduction from C1M to C3M, probation reduction from 2 years to 1 year unsupervised, and removal of one of two ordered counseling tracks. The client completed 26 weeks of DV counseling and remained crime-free during probation. Set aside under ARS § 13-905 available after probation completes. Sealing records under ARS § 13-911 eligible approximately 2026, two years after sentence completion, instead of the 3-year C1M wait.
What the client said
I had Zach as my attorney and he did great for my case. Definitely recommend this law firm. Always choose Future First if your future is on the line.
— Verified Google review
If you’re facing a DV-designated misdemeanor in Arizona
Reducing a Class 1 Misdemeanor DV Assault to a Class 3 Misdemeanor on the same DV designation is a multi-layer win. The class reduction shortens the sealing wait from 3 years to 2 years. The probation reduction from 2 years to 1 year shortens the total case timeline. Removing one of two counseling tracks saves time and money during probation.
Future First Criminal Law has handled DV-designated misdemeanor cases across Maricopa County and Arizona. We know how Surprise City Court and other West Valley municipal courts evaluate class-reduction requests and probation negotiations on DV cases.
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 DV conviction
Call us
Facing a DV charge in Arizona? Call Future First Criminal Law at 602-932-7890 or request a free consultation. We have handled hundreds of DV cases across Arizona. The earlier we are involved, the more options you have.
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 domestic violence law, visit the Arizona State Legislature website.