What is a supervening indictment in Arizona?
A supervening indictment means that you won’t have the benefit of a preliminary hearing. In a preliminary hearing a judge hears both sides and if probable cause is found the judge will rule that you must stand trial in Superior Court. If probable cause isn’t met the charge will be dismissed.
What does dismissed due to grand jury indictment mean in Arizona?
The phrase means the prosecution is presenting its case in secret to a grand jury, which will decide if enough evidence exists to charge you with a crime, instead of using the preliminary hearing procedure.
How long does the state have to file charges in Arizona?
Misdemeanors: Generally the state has one year to bring misdemeanor charges against a person in Arizona. Felonies: Arizona prosecutors have seven years to file felony criminal charges against a person.
What does first superseding indictment mean?
A superseding indictment takes the place of the previously active one. A spoken indictment goes beyond the public statement of charges to state the alleged underlying acts.
Are grand jury indictments public record Arizona?
The grand jury, comprising 16 jurors, determines whether probable cause exists based on evidence presented by the prosecutor. Grand juror proceedings are secret and their actions become public only through the indictment, if one is granted.
Is a victim statement enough to convict?
A general criminal law principle known as the corpus delicti rule provides that a confession, standing alone, isn’t enough for a conviction.
What is a Class 4 felony in Arizona?
A class 4 felony is in the middle-range of severity for felony crimes. It is more severe than a class 5 felony, but less severe than a class 3 felony. The sentencing range for a class 4 felony is usually between 1 year and 3.75 years for a first offense.
What happens if a witness in a trial doesn’t tell the truth?
You must tell the truth when testifying. Lying in court is a crime called perjury, and you can be sentenced with a jail term of up to 14 years. If you make a mistake, tell the lawyer who subpoenaed you and they will make sure your error is corrected in court.
How long does grand jury duty last in Arizona?
These grand jurors serve for a period of time that depends on the size of their county: 120 days, if the county has more than 200,000 people in it, like in Phoenix or Maricopa County, or. 180 days, if the county has fewer than 200,000 people in it.