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Going to court can feel stressful, and it’s more uncomfortable if you don’t know what to expect. If you’re involved with the court system in Coconino County, here’s what you want to consider, so you can attend your court date with confidence.
The Coconino County Superior Court is located at 200 N. San Francisco St., Flagstaff, AZ, 86001. The Court can be reached by phone at (928) 679-7600 and is open Monday – Friday from 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM.
The cases that are heard in the Coconino County Superior Court include:
Understanding the structure and process of the case as it moves through the Court is very important. As you move through the process, you can expect to experience:
An initial appearance: You’ll go before a judge for the first time and be provided with the initial information about the case against you. This generally happens within 24-72 hours of your arrest.
Having bond set: A bond is an amount required to go free until your case is decided. It can be a small amount or something much higher. In some cases, you may not be allowed to bond out at all, which means you would remain in custody until the ruling in your case.
A status conference: During a status conference, there can be an exchange of evidence, stipulation of terms, and the start of negotiations toward some settlement. This conference won’t generally finalize plea and settlement offers.
The preliminary hearing: You will experience something similar to a mini-trial at a preliminary hearing. The prosecution will introduce evidence and call witnesses, and the defense can cross-examine those witnesses.
The potential for a “scratched” case: Sometimes cases are “scratched,” which means they can be dismissed or temporarily dismissed. That could be the end of the issue, but a temporary dismissal could lead to a prefile stage where new charges are introduced. An attorney may be able to negotiate a settlement or plea for you during the pre-file stage, including a diversion program instead of charges.
The grand jury: A grand jury will listen to both sides of the case and then take a secret vote on whether they think there’s enough evidence of a crime. A grand jury may decide not to charge you with anything based on the evidence.
Arraignment: An arraignment is formal advisement of your rights, the charges against you, and the maximum penalty you can receive if found guilty of the accused crime. You will also enter a plea during that time.
Trial (if required): If your case is serious and you can’t come to a settlement or work through a plea agreement, you’ll need to go to trial. During that time, a judge or jury will look at all the evidence and information in your case and decide whether you are guilty of the crime you’ve been accused of.
Sentencing (if required): If you are found guilty of a crime, you’ll be sentenced based on the findings and facts of the case. A judge will be the one who sentences you based on guidelines for the crime and what kinds of punishments or penalties are typical and allowed.
For DUI, there are felony charges that can occur in this Court. These include:
A Class 4 Felony: A Class 4 felony falls in the mid-range of seriousness. It’s less severe than a Class 3 felony but still carries a sentencing range typically between one year and 3.75 years in prison for a first-time offender. There may also be fines, along with prison time. Aggravated DUI is a Class 4 felony.
A Class 6 Felony: A Class 6 felony is the least severe of the felony levels. This is a unique felony class, as the prosecutor in the case can choose to bring misdemeanor charges instead. Penalties for a Class 6 felony can include four months and 5.75 years in prison. More commonly, this class of felony involves fines and/or probation.
If there was an accident that accompanied the DUI charge, additional charges might include:
Endangerment: If you put other people at risk during your DUI, you can be charged with endangerment even if they weren’t harmed. That’s because it’s focused on endangering other people instead of whether or not your actions injured those people.
Aggravated assault: If you injure someone during a DUI, you can be charged with aggravated assault. The aggravated part of that charge comes from the DUI itself and the assault from the injury caused.
Murder: Murder is another possible charge you could receive along with a DUI. If someone dies because of your DUI accident, this is one option for charges. It’s not all that common, but you should know that it’s possible.
Vehicular Manslaughter: As opposed to murder, vehicular manslaughter is a more common charge if someone was killed as a result of your DUI. That can include a person in another vehicle, a passenger in your vehicle, or a pedestrian or other bystander.
If you’ve been arrested for DUI, with or without the potential for additional charges, you need a Coconino County Superior Court DUI defense attorney. An attorney familiar with the Court, the laws, and the requirements you’ll have to follow in your case can help you work toward a plea deal that will reduce your fines, penalties, and any required prison time. Reach out to us today, and let us help you with your DUI case and any additional charges you may be facing.
Call Rosenstein Law Group today ay (480) 248-7666 for your free DUI case evaluation.