A.R.S. § 13-1203 — Assault

The three ways assault is committed

• Intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly causing any physical injury to another person — a class 1 misdemeanor when intentional or knowing, a class 2 misdemeanor when reckless
• Intentionally placing another person in reasonable apprehension of imminent physical injury — a class 2 misdemeanor
• Knowingly touching another person with the intent to injure, insult, or provoke — a class 3 misdemeanor

“Any physical injury” is a low bar — a red mark or a scratch qualifies. The real disputes in these cases are usually about intent, about who started it, and about whether the account given to police matches the physical evidence.

Penalties

A class 1 misdemeanor carries up to six months in jail, a fine of up to $2,500 plus surcharges, and up to three years of probation; class 2 carries up to four months and $750; class 3 up to thirty days and $500. When the relationship between the parties meets A.R.S. § 13-3601, the assault is designated domestic violence, adding mandatory offender treatment and the federal firearm prohibition on conviction.

Defenses

Self-defense under A.R.S. § 13-404 justifies force a reasonable person would believe immediately necessary against another’s unlawful force — and once fairly raised, the State must disprove it beyond a reasonable doubt. Defense of a third person, defense of property, lack of the required intent, and simple factual dispute over what happened are all recurring defenses. When the charge involves a weapon, serious injury, or a protected victim, it is charged under the aggravated assault statute instead — a felony with far higher stakes. Either way, our assault defense page covers how these cases are handled.