The client carried a 2018 Class 4 Felony Shoplifting With Artifice or Device conviction out of Maricopa County Superior Court. Future First filed an application to designate the felony as a misdemeanor under ARS § 13-604 and the court granted the designation in 2021, reclassifying the conviction to a Class 1 Misdemeanor.
At a glance
| Original conviction | Shoplifting With Artifice or Device (ARS § 13-1805), Class 4 Felony, 2018 |
| Application filed | Application to Designate Felony as Misdemeanor, ARS § 13-604, 2021 |
| Court | Maricopa County Superior Court |
| Result | Designated To Misdemeanor. Class 4 Felony reclassified to a Class 1 Misdemeanor. |
| Rights restored | Civil and firearm rights consequences tied to felony status removed by the designation order. |
| Time from application to grant | Granted 2021 |
The challenge
A Class 4 Felony Shoplifting conviction in Arizona blocks employment, occupational licensing, housing, and the constitutional right to possess a firearm. Federal firearm law strips firearm rights from every person convicted of any felony. Employers screening on statewide criminal history searches stop reading after the word “felony.” Even when the underlying offense is a property crime that started in retail, the felony tier carries the same disqualifying weight as more serious offenses.
The plea structure on this case left the door open. The original judgment was entered as a Class 4 Felony with the door for designation to misdemeanor on completion of probation. The client served the sentence. Probation completed. Restitution paid. The conviction was still on the record as a felony.
What we did
Future First filed an Application to Designate Felony as Misdemeanor under ARS § 13-604 in Maricopa County Superior Court. ARS § 13-604 lets the sentencing judge reclassify a Class 4, Class 5, or Class 6 Felony as a Class 1 Misdemeanor on application after the defendant has fulfilled the conditions of probation. The statute is the cleanest path from felony status to misdemeanor status when the original plea preserved the option.
The application documented full probation completion, full restitution and fee compliance, and the absence of pending criminal matters. Future First built the application to lift the felony tag and convert the conviction to a misdemeanor in one motion.
The judge signed the order designating the felony as a misdemeanor. The reclassification removes the felony tag from the public record. The federal firearm prohibition tied to the felony status falls away. State licensing boards under Title 32 review the conviction as a misdemeanor for occupational licensing purposes.
What our clients say
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If you have a designation-eligible felony in Arizona
ARS § 13-604 lets the sentencing judge reclassify a Class 4, Class 5, or Class 6 Felony as a Class 1 Misdemeanor on application after the defendant has fulfilled the conditions of probation. The plea agreement typically marks the option in the sentencing order. The statute does not apply to Class 1, Class 2, or Class 3 Felonies.
Designation to misdemeanor is the cleanest path from felony status to misdemeanor status. The order is permanent. The federal firearm prohibition tied to the felony falls away. State licensing boards review the conviction as a misdemeanor going forward.
For many clients the next step after designation is sealing the misdemeanor under ARS § 13-911. The sealing wait period for a misdemeanor designated from a felony runs three years from the date of designation, not from the original sentencing.
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.
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