[alanoue616]

I was recently cited for fishing without a license at a lake in Arizona. When I called the court to find out what the fine was so I can pay it, they told be it was a Class II Misdemeanor and that I had to go to court in Flagstaff to speak with prosecutors. Is the really a misdemeanor? If so, what are my options. I thought I had a valid license at the time because I was told that one was purchased for me for my birthday but it wasn't. I of course went out and bought one immediately.

[AK lawyer]

I believe it would be what we lawyers call a malum prohibitum crime. It's a crime because Arizona doesn't want you to do it, but not necessarily because it's bad by it's very nature (malum pro se). That means you can be convicted even if you can prove you didn't have the specific intent to fish without a license.