This Maricopa marijuana set aside restored everything a 2012 felony conviction had taken. The client, a disabled military veteran, carried two Class 3 felony marijuana counts on his record for more than a decade. Future First applied under ARS § 13-905, and Maricopa County Superior Court set aside the judgment of guilt, restored his right to possess a firearm, and granted a Certificate of Second Chance.
At a glance
| Original conviction | Sale or Transportation of Marijuana Under Two Pounds (ARS § 13-3405), two counts, Class 3 Felony, 2012 |
| Application filed | Application to Set Aside Conviction, ARS § 13-905, 2026 |
| Court | Maricopa County Superior Court |
| Result | Set Aside Granted With Certificate Of Second Chance, judgment of guilt set aside, indictment dismissed |
| Rights restored | Civil rights restored. Firearm rights restored under ARS § 13-910 |
| Time from application to grant | 41 days from application filing to granted |
The challenge
The client pled guilty in 2012 to two counts of sale or transportation of marijuana under two pounds, both Class 3 felonies, in Maricopa County Superior Court. He completed probation so cleanly that his probation officer petitioned for early termination, and the court discharged him early in 2013. He paid every fine and fee. The case was his only arrest and his only conviction.
The felony judgment still stripped his civil rights, including the right to possess a firearm. For a military veteran with an otherwise spotless record, the loss stung long after the sentence ended. The conviction also stayed visible to every employer, landlord, and licensing agency that ran his name, more than twelve years after the court closed the case.
What we did
Future First filed an application to set aside the convictions under ARS § 13-905 and requested a Certificate of Second Chance and restoration of firearm rights. The application documented complete sentence compliance, the early probation discharge, the absence of any prior or subsequent criminal history, and the client’s honorable military service with continued VA treatment. The legal factors under ARS § 13-905(C) all pointed the same direction: rehabilitation, accountability, and the substantial passage of time.
The State took no position. The court found the client met every statutory requirement and granted the application. The order set aside the judgment of guilt, dismissed the indictment, released the client from all penalties and disabilities of the conviction, restored his right to possess a firearm, and granted a Certificate of Second Chance under ARS § 13-905(M). The Maricopa marijuana set aside went from filing to grant in 41 days.
Future First also filed a companion petition to seal the same case under ARS § 13-911 and won it. The set aside cleared the legal disabilities and the sealing removed the records from public view. Together they gave the client the fullest relief Arizona law offers, and this Maricopa marijuana set aside is the piece that put a firearm back in a veteran’s hands lawfully.
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If you have an old conviction in Arizona
A set aside under ARS § 13-905 asks the court to set aside the judgment of guilt, dismiss the charging document, and release you from the penalties of the conviction. On a felony, the same application can restore your civil rights, and the court can restore firearm rights under ARS § 13-910. A Certificate of Second Chance adds protection for employers and landlords who take a chance on you, which makes hiring and housing decisions easier.
There is no waiting period to apply for a set aside once you complete your sentence. Courts weigh the nature of the offense, your compliance, your record since, and the time that has passed. A well-documented application built on probation records, payment history, and service history gives the court a clear basis to grant relief.
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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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