The client completed a diversion class and the charge was dismissed with prejudice, but the arrest still showed on background checks. Future First handled the West McDowell Sealing Records petition and the court sealed the case under ARS § 13-911.
At a glance
| Original charge | Display of Fictitious License Plate (ARS § 28-2531(B)(1)), Class 2 Misdemeanor, 2025 (dismissed with prejudice, no conviction) |
| Application filed | Sealing Records Application (ARS § 13-911), 2026 |
| Court | West McDowell Justice Court |
| Result | Arrest and charge records sealed |
| Rights restored | Not applicable; no conviction |
| Time from application to grant | 37 days from application filing to granted |
The challenge
The client faced a Class 2 misdemeanor charge for displaying a fictitious license plate under ARS § 28-2531(B)(1) in the West McDowell Justice Court. The client completed the county attorney’s justice court diversion class, and the court dismissed the charge with prejudice. No conviction entered.
A dismissal closes the case, but it does not clear the record. The arrest and the dismissed charge stay in court databases and on commercial background reports. A criminal misdemeanor entry, even a dismissed one, can cost a person a job or an apartment. Removing it from public view requires a sealing petition.
What we did
Future First filed the petition to seal under ARS § 13-911 in the West McDowell Justice Court. The West McDowell Sealing Records petition documented the dismissal with prejudice, the completed diversion, and the client’s eligibility. The petition asked the court to seal all records of the arrest and the charge.
The court granted the petition and sealed the case 37 days after filing. After sealing, the dismissed misdemeanor no longer appears on standard background checks, and the client can lawfully state that the arrest did not occur.
If you have an old arrest in Arizona
Arizona’s record sealing law, ARS § 13-911, covers arrests and charges that ended in dismissal, not just convictions. A charge dismissed after diversion is a strong sealing candidate because there is no conviction on the record.
The waiting period for a dismissed misdemeanor is short, and a clean record after the case speeds the petition. When the paperwork is complete and the eligibility rules are met, a court can grant a sealing in a matter of weeks, as happened here.
If your charge was dismissed, you do not have to keep the arrest on your record. Sealing closes it to the public for good.
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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