The client carried a 2007 multi-count VIN tampering case out of Maricopa County Superior Court, including a Class 5 Felony Remove or Deface VIN count and an attempt count at Class 6 Felony. Future First filed for sealing under ARS § 13-911 in 2024 and the court granted the sealing application in 2025, sealing all records relating to the case.
At a glance
| Original conviction | Remove, Deface, or Destroy VIN (ARS § 28-2531(A)), Class 5 Felony; Attempt to Remove, Deface, or Destroy VIN (ARS § 28-2531(A)), Class 6 Felony, 2007 |
| Application filed | Application to Seal Criminal Case Records, ARS § 13-911, 2024 |
| Court | Maricopa County Superior Court |
| Result | Sealing Record Granted. All records relating to the arrest, the charging documents, and the case file sealed. |
| Rights restored | Records sealed under ARS § 13-911. Removes the case from public-facing background databases. |
| Time from application to grant | 147 days from application filing to granted |
The challenge
VIN tampering is an unusual offense in Arizona’s felony catalog. It carries an automotive-context felony tag that employers in vehicle sales, mechanics, fleet management, and insurance flag immediately on a background check. The Class 5 tier is high enough to disqualify the applicant from many state-licensed roles. Federal firearm law strips firearm rights from every person convicted of any felony.
The client had completed every term of the sentence well over a decade before the application. Probation completed. Restitution paid. Every monetary obligation paid. The case still followed the client into every background check, locking off industry-specific roles tied to the original offense context.
What we did
Future First filed an Application to Seal Criminal Case Records under ARS § 13-911 in Maricopa County Superior Court. The application packaged the underlying court file, the sentencing order, proof of full sentence completion, and the statutory factors the court weighs under § 13-911.
Multi-count sealing applications consolidate under the case number. Future First tracked the operative completion dates against the statutory wait, confirmed the wait had run on the highest-tier count, and built the application to put every required factor in front of the judge in a single submission.
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
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If you have an old felony in Arizona’s vehicle code
VIN tampering and other Arizona vehicle code felonies are eligible for sealing under ARS § 13-911 once the applicant has completed every term of the sentence and the statutory waiting period has run. The wait period scales with the highest conviction tier on the case. The application is filed in the court of conviction.
ARS § 13-911 lets the judge seal the arrest record, the charging documents, and the case file. The order does not erase the case from the world. It removes the case from public-facing background databases, employer screening services, and landlord checks.
Less common felony charges sometimes get less attention from sealing applicants because the eligibility math is not as well known. The statute treats them the same as more familiar felonies. The wait period and the application process follow the same rules.
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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