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If you have been cited for a criminal misdemeanor offense, you must appear at the Fountain Hills Municipal Court on the assigned court date. Criminal arraignments begin promptly at the time indicated on your citation. Criminal violations cannot be paid in advance.
Your initial court proceeding is called an arraignment. At the arraignment, you will be formally notified of the charges. You will be expected to enter a plea of guilty, not guilty, or no contest.
Plead guilty or no contest
If you plead guilty or no contest, your sentence may include financial sanctions, jail, programs, or community restitution. If you cannot afford to pay the full amount of the court fines and fees, you may request a time payment plan at the front counter. Do not ignore your responsibility to pay the fines because of financial hardship as there are several payment options available from the court.
Plead not guilty
If you plead not guilty, your case will be set to a future court date. At the pre-trial conference, you will meet with a prosecutor and discuss a possible plea agreement.
Be aware that the Town Prosecutor is not your attorney, and he/she is prohibited from providing you legal advice on how your case should be handled.
It is a requirement that all defendants appear by their scheduled appearance date and time.
If you have failed to appear for a criminal court appearance, an arrest warrant may be issued. A warrant may be satisfied by appearing in court. Please refer to the contact and hours information.