The client carried a 2025 Class 1 Misdemeanor assault charge that resolved through diversion and dismissal. Future First filed for sealing under ARS § 13-911 and the court granted the application in 2026.
At a glance
| Original conviction | Assault, Injury (ARS § 13-1203(A)(1)), Class 1 Misdemeanor, 2025 |
| Application filed | Application to Seal Criminal Case Records, ARS § 13-911, 2026 |
| Court | Tempe Municipal Court |
| Result | Sealing Record Granted; All Records Sealed. |
| Rights restored | N/A (misdemeanor; no civil or firearm rights lost). Records sealed under ARS § 13-911. |
| Time from filing to grant | 65 days from application filing to granted |
The challenge
A Class 1 Misdemeanor assault arrest sits on a record forever even after the State dismisses the case. Background check services pick up the arrest and the original filing, not the dismissal. Employers in healthcare, education, finance, and government see the word “assault” and stop reading. Landlords use the same data to deny rental applications.
The client completed Tempe’s Title 9 diversion program. The State dismissed the charge in 2026. The arrest still showed. The client needed the record sealed before applying for a new role and a new lease.
What we did
Future First filed a Application to Seal Criminal Case Records under ARS § 13-911 in Tempe Municipal Court. The brief established three points the statute requires: the offense is eligible for sealing, the applicationer completed every sentencing term, and sealing serves the applicationer and the public’s safety.
Tempe Sealing Records Assault applications live or die on completeness. We attached the dismissal order, proof of diversion completion, and the underlying case documentation. We waited the statutory notice window for the State to object. The State did not object.
The judge signed the order sealing all records relating to the arrest, the charging documents, and the case file. The Clerk of the Court sealed the records and transmitted the order to the Arizona Department of Public Safety and the prosecutor.
What our clients say
Read verified reviews from real Future First clients on our client reviews page or directly on Google.
If you have an old assault charge in Arizona
A dismissed assault charge in Arizona is eligible for sealing under ARS § 13-911. The wait period for a dismissal is shorter than for a conviction. The applicationer files in the same court where the charge was filed. The State has 60 days to respond.
Most applicationers qualify if they finished every condition of their sentence or diversion, paid all monetary obligations, and have no new pending charges. The court runs a Department of Public Safety background report before deciding.
The sealing order does not erase the case from the world. It removes it from public-facing background checks, employer searches, and landlord screenings. The applicationer can lawfully say “no” when asked about prior arrests or convictions on most applications.
Related resources
Call us
Want to clear your record in Arizona? Call Future First Criminal Law at 602-900-6240 or request a free consultation. We have handled hundreds of Arizona record removal applications across every statute path. The cleanup is permanent and the process moves faster when handled by a firm that knows the local court.
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 record removal law, visit the Arizona State Legislature website.
- About the Author
- Latest Posts
Life’s better with a clean record
