Arizona criminal charge
Aggravated assault in Arizona
Current through 2026 Arizona legislative session
Aggravated assault is a criminal offense under Arizona law, defined by A.R.S. § 13-1204. Its classification is not fixed: Arizona assigns a different penalty class depending on the circumstances of the offense. The class that applies — and the sentencing range that follows from it — depends on which statutory variant fits the facts.
Defined by A.R.S. § 13-1204.
What is the penalty for aggravated assault in Arizona?
| Penalty | Range | Basis | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jail / prison | 2.5 years to 7 years (Serious physical injury or deadly weapon/instrument (general) — Assault under A.1 or A.2 (serious physical injury or use of a deadly weapon/dangerous instrument), or use of a simulated deadly weapon under A.11, or unlawfully taking a firearm under A.9(a), unless committed on a first responder, employee of law enforcement agency, or prosecutor, and victim is not under fifteen.; presumptive 3.5 years; mitigated 2 / aggravated 8.75 years on required findings (13-701, 13-702(B)-(D)); repetitive (13-703) or dangerous (13-704) offenses use different ranges) | presumptive | A.R.S. § 13-702 |
| Fine | up to $150,000 (Serious physical injury or deadly weapon/instrument (general) — Assault under A.1 or A.2 (serious physical injury or use of a deadly weapon/dangerous instrument), or use of a simulated deadly weapon under A.11, or unlawfully taking a firearm under A.9(a), unless committed on a first responder, employee of law enforcement agency, or prosecutor, and victim is not under fifteen.; fine cap for an individual (13-801); statute-specific amounts may exceed) | discretionary | A.R.S. § 13-702 |
| Jail / prison | 4 years to 10 years (Serious physical injury or deadly weapon on victim under fifteen — Assault under A.1 or A.2 where the victim is under fifteen years of age.; presumptive 5 years; mitigated 3 / aggravated 12.5 years available only on at least two mitigating/aggravating circumstances (13-701, 13-702(B)-(D)); repetitive (13-703) or dangerous (13-704) offenses use different ranges) | presumptive | A.R.S. § 13-702 |
| Fine | up to $150,000 (Serious physical injury or deadly weapon on victim under fifteen — Assault under A.1 or A.2 where the victim is under fifteen years of age.; fine cap for an individual (13-801); drug and other offenses may set higher statute-specific amounts) | discretionary | A.R.S. § 13-702 |
| Jail / prison | 18 months to 36 months (Substantial disfigurement/impairment/fracture or aided-by-two-or-more-accomplices assault or breath/blood-flow restriction assault — Assault under A.3 (substantial disfigurement, impairment, or fracture), A.12 (aided by two or more accomplices causing physical injury to a single victim), or subsection B (strangulation-type assault combined with a domestic violence circumstance).; presumptive 2.5 years; mitigated 1 year / aggravated 3.75 years on required findings (13-701, 13-702(B)-(D)); repetitive (13-703) or dangerous (13-704) offenses use different ranges) | presumptive | A.R.S. § 13-702 |
| Fine | up to $150,000 (Substantial disfigurement/impairment/fracture or aided-by-two-or-more-accomplices assault or breath/blood-flow restriction assault — Assault under A.3 (substantial disfigurement, impairment, or fracture), A.12 (aided by two or more accomplices causing physical injury to a single victim), or subsection B (strangulation-type assault combined with a domestic violence circumstance).; fine cap for an individual (13-801); statute-specific amounts may exceed) | discretionary | A.R.S. § 13-702 |
| Jail / prison | 9 months to 24 months (Unlawful taking of non-firearm weapon from officer, or assault by imprisoned person on custodial employee — Assault under A.9(b) (taking or attempting to control an officer's non-firearm weapon) or A.10 (assault by an imprisoned/detained person on a custodial employee).; presumptive 1.5 years; mitigated 6 months / aggravated 2.5 years on required findings (13-701, 13-702(B)-(D)); repetitive (13-703) or dangerous (13-704) offenses use different ranges) | presumptive | A.R.S. § 13-702 |
| Fine | up to $150,000 (Unlawful taking of non-firearm weapon from officer, or assault by imprisoned person on custodial employee — Assault under A.9(b) (taking or attempting to control an officer's non-firearm weapon) or A.10 (assault by an imprisoned/detained person on a custodial employee).; fine cap for an individual (13-801); statute-specific amounts may exceed) | discretionary | A.R.S. § 13-702 |
| Jail / prison | 6 months to 18 months (Assault while victim restrained, home-invasion assault, assault on minor by adult, assault violating protective order, assault on protected-class person, or taking of an officer's implement — Assault under A.4 (victim bound/restrained/incapacitated), A.5 (entering private home to assault), A.6 (adult assaulting minor under 15), A.7 (assault violating protective order), A.8 (assault on protected occupational classes), or A.9(c) (taking an officer's implement).; presumptive 1 year; mitigated .33 years / aggravated 2 years on required findings (13-701, 13-702(B)-(D)); repetitive (13-703) or dangerous (13-704) offenses use different ranges; a class 6 felony may be designated a class 1 misdemeanor under 13-604) | presumptive | A.R.S. § 13-702 |
| Fine | up to $150,000 (Assault while victim restrained, home-invasion assault, assault on minor by adult, assault violating protective order, assault on protected-class person, or taking of an officer's implement — Assault under A.4 (victim bound/restrained/incapacitated), A.5 (entering private home to assault), A.6 (adult assaulting minor under 15), A.7 (assault violating protective order), A.8 (assault on protected occupational classes), or A.9(c) (taking an officer's implement).; fine cap for an individual (13-801); statute-specific amounts may exceed) | discretionary | A.R.S. § 13-702 |
| Jail / prison | 4 years to 10 years (Serious injury or deadly weapon assault on a first responder — Assault under A.1 or A.2 committed on a first responder.; presumptive 5 years; mitigated 3 / aggravated 12.5 years available only on at least two mitigating/aggravating circumstances (13-701, 13-702(B)-(D)); repetitive (13-703) or dangerous (13-704) offenses use different ranges) | presumptive | A.R.S. § 13-702 |
| Fine | up to $150,000 (Serious injury or deadly weapon assault on a first responder — Assault under A.1 or A.2 committed on a first responder.; fine cap for an individual (13-801); drug and other offenses may set higher statute-specific amounts) | discretionary | A.R.S. § 13-702 |
| Jail / prison | 2.5 years to 7 years (Disfigurement/impairment/fracture assault on a first responder — Assault under A.3 committed on a first responder.; presumptive 3.5 years; mitigated 2 / aggravated 8.75 years on required findings (13-701, 13-702(B)-(D)); repetitive (13-703) or dangerous (13-704) offenses use different ranges) | presumptive | A.R.S. § 13-702 |
| Fine | up to $150,000 (Disfigurement/impairment/fracture assault on a first responder — Assault under A.3 committed on a first responder.; fine cap for an individual (13-801); statute-specific amounts may exceed) | discretionary | A.R.S. § 13-702 |
| Jail / prison | 18 months to 36 months (Assault on first responder (protected-class) without physical injury — Assault under A.8(a) committed on a first responder, when no physical injury results.; presumptive 2.5 years; mitigated 1 year / aggravated 3.75 years on required findings (13-701, 13-702(B)-(D)); repetitive (13-703) or dangerous (13-704) offenses use different ranges) | presumptive | A.R.S. § 13-702 |
| Fine | up to $150,000 (Assault on first responder (protected-class) without physical injury — Assault under A.8(a) committed on a first responder, when no physical injury results.; fine cap for an individual (13-801); statute-specific amounts may exceed) | discretionary | A.R.S. § 13-702 |
| Jail / prison | 2.5 years to 7 years (Assault on first responder (protected-class) resulting in physical injury — Assault under A.8(a) committed on a first responder that results in physical injury to the first responder.; presumptive 3.5 years; mitigated 2 / aggravated 8.75 years on required findings (13-701, 13-702(B)-(D)); repetitive (13-703) or dangerous (13-704) offenses use different ranges) | presumptive | A.R.S. § 13-702 |
| Fine | up to $150,000 (Assault on first responder (protected-class) resulting in physical injury — Assault under A.8(a) committed on a first responder that results in physical injury to the first responder.; fine cap for an individual (13-801); statute-specific amounts may exceed) | discretionary | A.R.S. § 13-702 |
| Jail / prison | 4 years to 10 years (Serious injury or deadly weapon assault on law enforcement agency employee — Assault under A.1 or A.2 committed on an employee of a law enforcement agency.; presumptive 5 years; mitigated 3 / aggravated 12.5 years available only on at least two mitigating/aggravating circumstances (13-701, 13-702(B)-(D)); repetitive (13-703) or dangerous (13-704) offenses use different ranges) | presumptive | A.R.S. § 13-702 |
| Fine | up to $150,000 (Serious injury or deadly weapon assault on law enforcement agency employee — Assault under A.1 or A.2 committed on an employee of a law enforcement agency.; fine cap for an individual (13-801); drug and other offenses may set higher statute-specific amounts) | discretionary | A.R.S. § 13-702 |
| Jail / prison | 2.5 years to 7 years (Disfigurement/impairment/fracture assault on law enforcement agency employee — Assault under A.3 committed on an employee of a law enforcement agency.; presumptive 3.5 years; mitigated 2 / aggravated 8.75 years on required findings (13-701, 13-702(B)-(D)); repetitive (13-703) or dangerous (13-704) offenses use different ranges) | presumptive | A.R.S. § 13-702 |
| Fine | up to $150,000 (Disfigurement/impairment/fracture assault on law enforcement agency employee — Assault under A.3 committed on an employee of a law enforcement agency.; fine cap for an individual (13-801); statute-specific amounts may exceed) | discretionary | A.R.S. § 13-702 |
| Jail / prison | 9 months to 24 months (Assault on law enforcement agency employee (A.8(j)) without physical injury — Assault under A.8(j) committed on an employee of a law enforcement agency, when no physical injury results.; presumptive 1.5 years; mitigated 6 months / aggravated 2.5 years on required findings (13-701, 13-702(B)-(D)); repetitive (13-703) or dangerous (13-704) offenses use different ranges) | presumptive | A.R.S. § 13-702 |
| Fine | up to $150,000 (Assault on law enforcement agency employee (A.8(j)) without physical injury — Assault under A.8(j) committed on an employee of a law enforcement agency, when no physical injury results.; fine cap for an individual (13-801); statute-specific amounts may exceed) | discretionary | A.R.S. § 13-702 |
| Jail / prison | 18 months to 36 months (Assault on law enforcement agency employee (A.8(j)) resulting in physical injury — Assault under A.8(j) committed on an employee of a law enforcement agency that results in physical injury to the employee.; presumptive 2.5 years; mitigated 1 year / aggravated 3.75 years on required findings (13-701, 13-702(B)-(D)); repetitive (13-703) or dangerous (13-704) offenses use different ranges) | presumptive | A.R.S. § 13-702 |
| Fine | up to $150,000 (Assault on law enforcement agency employee (A.8(j)) resulting in physical injury — Assault under A.8(j) committed on an employee of a law enforcement agency that results in physical injury to the employee.; fine cap for an individual (13-801); statute-specific amounts may exceed) | discretionary | A.R.S. § 13-702 |
| Jail / prison | 4 years to 10 years (Serious injury or deadly weapon assault on a prosecutor — Assault under A.1 or A.2 committed on a prosecutor.; presumptive 5 years; mitigated 3 / aggravated 12.5 years available only on at least two mitigating/aggravating circumstances (13-701, 13-702(B)-(D)); repetitive (13-703) or dangerous (13-704) offenses use different ranges) | presumptive | A.R.S. § 13-702 |
| Fine | up to $150,000 (Serious injury or deadly weapon assault on a prosecutor — Assault under A.1 or A.2 committed on a prosecutor.; fine cap for an individual (13-801); drug and other offenses may set higher statute-specific amounts) | discretionary | A.R.S. § 13-702 |
| Jail / prison | 2.5 years to 7 years (Disfigurement/impairment/fracture assault on a prosecutor — Assault under A.3 committed on a prosecutor.; presumptive 3.5 years; mitigated 2 / aggravated 8.75 years on required findings (13-701, 13-702(B)-(D)); repetitive (13-703) or dangerous (13-704) offenses use different ranges) | presumptive | A.R.S. § 13-702 |
| Fine | up to $150,000 (Disfigurement/impairment/fracture assault on a prosecutor — Assault under A.3 committed on a prosecutor.; fine cap for an individual (13-801); statute-specific amounts may exceed) | discretionary | A.R.S. § 13-702 |
Applies to first felony offense, non-dangerous; presumptive term 3.5 years.
How is aggravated assault classified in Arizona?
The classification depends on the circumstances:
| Variant | Classification | When it applies | Statute |
|---|---|---|---|
| Serious physical injury or deadly weapon/instrument (general) | Class 3 Felony | Assault under A.1 or A.2 (serious physical injury or use of a deadly weapon/dangerous instrument), or use of a simulated deadly weapon under A.11, or unlawfully taking a firearm under A.9(a), unless committed on a first responder, employee of law enforcement agency, or prosecutor, and victim is not under fifteen. | A.R.S. § 13-1204F |
| Serious physical injury or deadly weapon on victim under fifteen | Class 2 Felony | Assault under A.1 or A.2 where the victim is under fifteen years of age. | A.R.S. § 13-1204F |
| Substantial disfigurement/impairment/fracture or aided-by-two-or-more-accomplices assault or breath/blood-flow restriction assault | Class 4 Felony | Assault under A.3 (substantial disfigurement, impairment, or fracture), A.12 (aided by two or more accomplices causing physical injury to a single victim), or subsection B (strangulation-type assault combined with a domestic violence circumstance). | A.R.S. § 13-1204F |
| Unlawful taking of non-firearm weapon from officer, or assault by imprisoned person on custodial employee | Class 5 Felony | Assault under A.9(b) (taking or attempting to control an officer's non-firearm weapon) or A.10 (assault by an imprisoned/detained person on a custodial employee). | A.R.S. § 13-1204F |
| Assault while victim restrained, home-invasion assault, assault on minor by adult, assault violating protective order, assault on protected-class person, or taking of an officer's implement | Class 6 Felony | Assault under A.4 (victim bound/restrained/incapacitated), A.5 (entering private home to assault), A.6 (adult assaulting minor under 15), A.7 (assault violating protective order), A.8 (assault on protected occupational classes), or A.9(c) (taking an officer's implement). | A.R.S. § 13-1204F |
| Serious injury or deadly weapon assault on a first responder | Class 2 Felony | Assault under A.1 or A.2 committed on a first responder. | A.R.S. § 13-1204G |
| Disfigurement/impairment/fracture assault on a first responder | Class 3 Felony | Assault under A.3 committed on a first responder. | A.R.S. § 13-1204G |
| Assault on first responder (protected-class) without physical injury | Class 4 Felony | Assault under A.8(a) committed on a first responder, when no physical injury results. | A.R.S. § 13-1204G |
| Assault on first responder (protected-class) resulting in physical injury | Class 3 Felony | Assault under A.8(a) committed on a first responder that results in physical injury to the first responder. | A.R.S. § 13-1204G |
| Serious injury or deadly weapon assault on law enforcement agency employee | Class 2 Felony | Assault under A.1 or A.2 committed on an employee of a law enforcement agency. | A.R.S. § 13-1204H |
| Disfigurement/impairment/fracture assault on law enforcement agency employee | Class 3 Felony | Assault under A.3 committed on an employee of a law enforcement agency. | A.R.S. § 13-1204H |
| Assault on law enforcement agency employee (A.8(j)) without physical injury | Class 5 Felony | Assault under A.8(j) committed on an employee of a law enforcement agency, when no physical injury results. | A.R.S. § 13-1204H |
| Assault on law enforcement agency employee (A.8(j)) resulting in physical injury | Class 4 Felony | Assault under A.8(j) committed on an employee of a law enforcement agency that results in physical injury to the employee. | A.R.S. § 13-1204H |
| Serious injury or deadly weapon assault on a prosecutor | Class 2 Felony | Assault under A.1 or A.2 committed on a prosecutor. | A.R.S. § 13-1204I.1 |
| Disfigurement/impairment/fracture assault on a prosecutor | Class 3 Felony | Assault under A.3 committed on a prosecutor. | A.R.S. § 13-1204I.2 |
Common questions about aggravated assault in Arizona
Is aggravated assault a felony or a misdemeanor in Arizona?
It depends on the circumstances: aggravated assault ranges from a Class 6 Felony to a Class 2 Felony in Arizona under A.R.S. § 13-1204.
Serious physical injury or deadly weapon/instrument (general): Class 3 Felony (A.R.S. § 13-1204F) · Serious physical injury or deadly weapon on victim under fifteen: Class 2 Felony (A.R.S. § 13-1204F) · Substantial disfigurement/impairment/fracture or aided-by-two-or-more-accomplices assault or breath/blood-flow restriction assault: Class 4 Felony (A.R.S. § 13-1204F) · Unlawful taking of non-firearm weapon from officer, or assault by imprisoned person on custodial employee: Class 5 Felony (A.R.S. § 13-1204F) · Assault while victim restrained, home-invasion assault, assault on minor by adult, assault violating protective order, assault on protected-class person, or taking of an officer's implement: Class 6 Felony (A.R.S. § 13-1204F) · Serious injury or deadly weapon assault on a first responder: Class 2 Felony (A.R.S. § 13-1204G) · Disfigurement/impairment/fracture assault on a first responder: Class 3 Felony (A.R.S. § 13-1204G) · Assault on first responder (protected-class) without physical injury: Class 4 Felony (A.R.S. § 13-1204G) · Assault on first responder (protected-class) resulting in physical injury: Class 3 Felony (A.R.S. § 13-1204G) · Serious injury or deadly weapon assault on law enforcement agency employee: Class 2 Felony (A.R.S. § 13-1204H) · Disfigurement/impairment/fracture assault on law enforcement agency employee: Class 3 Felony (A.R.S. § 13-1204H) · Assault on law enforcement agency employee (A.8(j)) without physical injury: Class 5 Felony (A.R.S. § 13-1204H) · Assault on law enforcement agency employee (A.8(j)) resulting in physical injury: Class 4 Felony (A.R.S. § 13-1204H) · Serious injury or deadly weapon assault on a prosecutor: Class 2 Felony (A.R.S. § 13-1204I.1) · Disfigurement/impairment/fracture assault on a prosecutor: Class 3 Felony (A.R.S. § 13-1204I.2)
What are the penalties for aggravated assault in Arizona?
Penalties for aggravated assault in Arizona depend on how it is classified — from a Class 6 Felony up to a Class 2 Felony — with the ranges set by A.R.S. § 13-702; the full table of ranges by variant is published on this page.
Which Arizona statute covers aggravated assault?
Aggravated assault is governed by A.R.S. § 13-1204 (Aggravated assault; classification; definitions).
Legal terms used in this law
This reference is informational and is not legal advice. Penalty ranges are the statutory classification ranges; sentencing in a specific case depends on its facts and history.