Prescott Valley Criminal Law Blog

Sometimes a teenager unintentionally bends the rules without truly understand that what they are doing is illegal. Moreover, teenagers are at a stage where they will start experimenting sexually. The combination of these two things, however, could lead to charges of sex crimes against a teenager.

In Arizona, it is against the law for a juvenile to purposely use an electronic communication device to send or display sexually explicit material that depicts another minor. It is also against the law for a juvenile to purposely possess sexually explicit material that depicts another minor, which was received through the use of an electronic communication device. The violations for these crimes range from a petty offense to a class three misdemeanor, depending on how many people the juvenile displayed or transmitted the image to.

This Fourth of July, as the fireworks boom, people across Arizona celebrate our nation's founding. And, as with many other celebrations, drinking a cold beer, glass of wine or cocktail is traditional, whether it is at a backyard barbecue, a neighborhood block party or any other celebration. However, driving home after these festivities can cause a person to encounter an unwanted scenario.

That scenario is being pulled over on suspicion of drunk driving. It is entirely possible for a person to have one or two alcoholic beverages, and still be under the legal limit. But, that does not mean overzealous police officers will not be on the lookout for those they think have overindulged on a holiday that is associated with alcohol.

Some may argue that sex crimes are some of the most reprehensible crimes a person can commit. For this reason, those accused of committing a sex crime may find that not only is their freedom on the line, but also that the mere accusation has negatively affected their personal life. Sometimes, the evidence against the accused can seem damning, but the accused still deserves his or her constitutional rights upheld. One of these rights is the ability to be released upon posting bail.

The Arizona Supreme Court issued a ruling regarding bail and certain sex crimes. According to the ruling, those accused of rape are permitted to post bail, even if there is enough evidence prior to their trial that the accused committed the crime. This ruling overturned a 2002 state constitutional amendment in which those charged with certain sex crimes were automatically denied bail.

Heroin usage is on the rise, but this is a public health issue that must be stopped in its tracks. The rate of overdose deaths has been increasing steadily. What makes this so troubling is that heroin overdoses are possible for any user, whether they have been using for years or if this is their first time.

Lawmakers have addressed the problem by making sure there are strict laws in place to discourage heroin use. These come in many forms from possession to trafficking. It is imperative for anyone who is using or selling heroin to know some of the risks.