No Contest Plea

rogerLaw News

A plea of guilty and a plea of not-guilty tend to be more widely understood than a plea of no contest, as the latter is far less common. Essentially, entering a plea of no contest, from the Latin phrase “nolo contendere”, means you are NOT admitting guilt, but do not desire to contest your charges. If your plea of no …

Caught on Camera and Charged with a Crime

rogerLaw News

With advancements in technology, there is more of a chance that criminal activity will leave a video footprint.  Take a walk down the street and you will see Ring doorbells on numerous houses or look up while you are shopping in a store, and you will see the ominous video bubbles capturing your every move. Your car and other cars …

Skip the Line! Online Access to the Arizona Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Division

rogerLaw News

In an exciting development, many MVD services previously only available in-person, have now moved online! Launched in April of 2020, the Arizona Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Division online access site now has more than 3 million users. According to ADOT, every Arizonan with a driver’s license, identification card, or a vehicle registered in Arizona has an AZ MVD Now account …

Victim Contact in a Criminal Case – What is Allowed?

rogerLaw News

If you are arrested in the State of Arizona and the prosecuting agency has determined there is an alleged victim(s) in your case, it is imperative that you understand your release conditions as it relates to what is and what is not permissible contact with the alleged victim(s). In most cases, Courts will order no contact whatsoever with an alleged …

Competency v. Insanity – Is There a Difference in Arizona?

rogerLaw News

These two terms are often used in criminal proceedings, but do you know the difference between the two?  This article aims to highlight the differences between competency and insanity to foster a better understanding of how they are defined and used in a criminal case in Arizona. The main difference between competency and insanity is the time period for the …

Sex Offender Registration Termination

rogerSex Crime

SB  1836 has made its way through the Arizona Legislature, and was approved by the Governor on June 30, 2021.  This Bill allows for some relaxation of the sex offender registration requirements, authorizing a Petition to Terminate Registration in certain cases.  Termination only applies to registrants who are now 35 years of age or older and were under 22 years …

castillo law 2020 holiday

STAY OFF THE NAUGHTY LIST FOR THE HOLIDAYS THIS YEAR

rogerAssault Crime, DUI, Arizona Law, Shoplifting

The holidays traditionally are a time of peace and joy, but often result in stress, over-shopping, and overindulgence.  Unfortunately, the number of shoplifting and alcohol related crimes tend to increase during this time of year too. Some of us fall to the pressure of obtaining gifts we cannot afford and resort to shoplifting. Other simply make errors in judgement due …

DUI Defendants can Finally Serve Jail Time at Home

rogerDUI

On July 22, 2020, the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors finally authorized home detention for misdemeanor DUI Defendants charged in Justice Courts. This comes after many years of unfair and disproportionate treatment for DUI Defendants throughout Maricopa County. Years ago, the legislature recognized that current misdemeanor DUI sentences in Arizona are extremely harsh compared to other misdemeanor crimes, and even …

Arizona’s Second Chances Act: A 2020 Ballot Initiative aiming to benefit all by ending mass incarceration, rehabilitating non-violent offenders, and reducing the $1.2 billion burden on taxpayers

rogerLaw News, Arizona Law, AZ Events

Arizona has the 4th highest incarceration rate in the nation, just behind Mississippi, Oklahoma and Louisiana.  For the last 2 decades, the prison population in Arizona has increased by 300% and the cost to fund it has increased by 400%.  In fact, Arizona spends over 1 billion dollars a year on prisons each year and has nearly 40,000 people currently …