The client carried a felony narcotic drugs conviction from 2004 for more than two decades. Future First won a Coconino Set Aside Narcotic Drugs order that set aside the judgment and restored firearm rights.
At a glance
| Original conviction | Attempted Sale of Narcotic Drugs (ARS § 13-3408(A)(7)), a Class 3 felony, 2004 |
| Application filed | Set aside under ARS § 13-905, with firearm rights restoration under ARS § 13-910, 2025 |
| Court | Coconino County Superior Court |
| Result | Judgment of guilt set aside, charges dismissed, firearm rights restored |
| Rights restored | Civil rights and firearm rights |
| Time from application to grant | 481 days from application filing to granted |
The challenge
The client’s case began in the late 1990s when he was a teenager and resolved by plea in 2004. He completed his jail term, finished probation, and paid every fine. A Class 3 felony drug conviction stayed on his record anyway. It showed on every background check, closed off licensing paths, and stripped his civil rights, including the right to possess a firearm.
Drug felonies carry a particular weight on background checks. Employers see the words “narcotic drugs” and stop reading. Two decades of clean living never make it into the conversation.
What we did
Future First filed an application to set aside the conviction under ARS § 13-905, paired with a request to restore firearm rights under ARS § 13-910. The State opposed in writing. Future First answered with a reply brief documenting complete sentence compliance and more than twenty years without new charges.
The Coconino Set Aside Narcotic Drugs order came back granted. The court found the client met all statutory requirements, set aside the judgment of guilt, dismissed the charging document, released the client from the penalties and disabilities of the conviction, and restored his right to possess a firearm.
The same effort cleared two related cases from the same era. The court also granted a separate sealing petition on this case, so the record no longer appears on standard background checks.
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If you have an old conviction in Arizona
A set aside under ARS § 13-905 vacates the judgment of guilt and dismisses the charges. The record is updated to show the case was set aside, and for many felonies the court restores civil rights at the same time. ARS § 13-910 provides the companion path for firearm rights.
Drug convictions are eligible. Courts weigh sentence compliance and the years since the case, not the label on the charge. A conviction from the 1990s or 2000s followed by a clean record is a strong candidate, even when the State objects.
The Coconino Set Aside Narcotic Drugs result shows a serious felony drug conviction from twenty years ago is fixable with the right filing and the right record of compliance.
Related resources
Call us
Want to clear your record in Arizona? Call Future First Criminal Law at 602-900-7625 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.
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