The client carried an old Class 6 Felony Drug Paraphernalia case routed through Mesa. 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 arrest and the case.
At a glance
| Original case | Drug Paraphernalia Possess or Use (ARS § 13-3415), Class 6 Felony |
| Application filed | Application to Seal Criminal Case Records, ARS § 13-911, 2024 |
| Court | Mesa Municipal 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 | 146 days from application filing to granted |
The challenge
An old drug paraphernalia case in Arizona sits on a record forever unless cleared through sealing. Background services that aggregate court records pick up the arrest, the case number, and the charge type. Employers, landlords, and licensing services see the entry and stop reading. The fact that the case may have closed decades ago does not change what shows up on a background check.
The client had moved on long before the application. Years of clean conduct. Stable life. The old case still followed the client into every background check. The path forward required sealing the records.
What we did
Future First filed an Application to Seal Criminal Case Records under ARS § 13-911 in Mesa Municipal Court. The application packaged the underlying court file, the arrest record, proof of disposition, and the statutory factors the court weighs under § 13-911.
Sealing applications routed through a municipal court rather than a Superior Court require careful coordination with the local clerk and the State’s records office. Future First tracked the response window, confirmed no opposition, and presented the application for ruling once timing was clear.
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.
What our clients say
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If you have an old drug paraphernalia case in Arizona
A Drug Paraphernalia case is eligible for sealing under ARS § 13-911 once the applicant has completed every term of the disposition and the statutory waiting period has run. Wait periods scale with the conviction class and the disposition type. A dismissed or diverted case has a shorter wait than a felony 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. The applicant can lawfully say “no” when asked about prior arrests or convictions on most applications.
Older cases often have the cleanest sealing path because the post-disposition record is long and clean. Judges weigh that record when deciding the application.
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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