Top Colorado Criminal Lawyers

Work With an Outstanding Colorado Criminal Attorney Today

If you or a family member have recently been accused or charged with a criminal offense in your state, such as theft or DUI, you probably are concerned about what will happen in the near future. You likely are wondering who will be willing to listen to your side of the events, and you want to know what your rights are and how your job and family may be affected. Most importantly you want to know who you can turn to for help.

At the first opportunity, you should consult an experienced attorney. This will help you avoid making mistakes and can also help to ease the consequences that often come with criminal charges. Now is time for a free consultation with a Coloradocriminal lawyer who has a proven track record in criminal cases just like the one you or a loved one may be facing. You have the right to remain silent and protect your interests, but the sooner you meet with a criminal attorney the better off you will be. Remember, just because a person is charged with a state offense does not mean that they will be found guilty. Hiring a good criminal lawyer can help protect you and your family and will provide you with information on the rights and options that you may have. Many attorneys will even offer free advice during the initial meeting so that you can decide the next steps you wish to take.

Are You Looking for an Experience Criminal Lawyer?

We have an experienced and professional team of criminal attorneys that are well-versed in many areas of crime from domestic violence to fraud to DUI. We have capable lawyers who specialize in areas of criminal defense like theft, aggravated assault, manslaughter, sexual offenses, weapons charges and much more.

The sooner you act the better. It doesn't matter if you are actually facing charges or you simply fear that there will be repercussions for an act in your past, the longer it takes to get legal counsel, the fewer options you will have. Our Colorado criminal attorneys have the expertise to fully understand how state law works and they will be able to offer valuable advice to you during your first meeting.

Build Up a Strong Defense for a DUI Charge

One of the most common charges at the state level is a DUI. Though consequences of this action can vary, many times they will include a night in jail, alcohol education classes, heavy fines and even a suspended driver's license. A smart move is to find a Colorado criminal attorney who has the expertise and knowledge in DUI cases like the one you may be facing. Our experienced lawyers can help to find out if you qualify as a first time offender, to explain the fines and other penalties that you could face, and how you can plan, together, the defense strategy. They will also help you to understand how this type of charge may affect other parts of your life like your auto insurance and even your job.

Good Lawyers are Focused on Specific Areas of Law

Our team of experienced criminal defense attorneys concentrates on certain areas of the law. This helps them to gain thorough knowledge of their legal specialty and also helps them build up strong track records in specific types of cases. They will also have comprehensive information about particular state laws and know how they relate to your personal case. Our lawyers will use this background to formulate a solid defense strategy for your individual case. We help to match you with the perfect lawyer for your unique situation.

What to Expect From Your Criminal Lawyer

When you first meet with your criminal lawyer for a consultation you will need to discuss the facts of your case. Your attorney will be able to share their own expertise of the law and how it will relate to the charges being brought against you. You should always be as candid as you can be with your lawyer and be willing to ask them questions. Your attorney will make sure to keep your information confidential and will strive to represent your best interests. It is important for you to follow any advice that is given to you by your attorney and to understand that patience may be needed.

A Strong Reputation Will Count

Our lawyers belong to a variety of professional groups like the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. You will be able to track the success rate of our attorneys throughout their careers which can give you peace of mind. Our attorneys have been thoroughly screened in order to ensure they are providing top notch legal counsel.

You Can Trust Our Attorneys

The perfect criminal lawyer for you will be the one who is going to advocate for your best interests. They will be able to earn your trust, adhere to the highest ethical standards and provide you with that extra boost of confidence that is always needed in these situations.

Our lawyers will know the common methods of defense for you and will handle your case with the urgency and care that you need. Avoid mistakes early on in the criminal process by choosing an attorney quickly. It is important to have the trustworthy legal support that comes from professional counsel. Call one of our qualified attorneys today!

Are You Being Charged with a Property Crime in Colorado? Do You Know the Consequences?

Every state in the U.S. classifies crimes by type and severity. The type of crime is determined by what or who is harmed by the criminal action, whether property, person, or the family. For example, property crimes are those that attempt to unlawfully attempt to obtain money or property. Then, the severity is the amount of harm a criminal act causes and the maximum punishment for such action. Based on circumstances of the offense, a crime is either a felony or misdemeanor when classified by severity.

Colorado’s Criminal Code, found at Title 18 of the Colorado Revised Statutes, further classifies each misdemeanor more narrowly as a Class 1, 2, 3, or 4 misdemeanor, with a Class 1 misdemeanor being the most serious of these offenses. Likewise, felonies in Colorado are divided into Class 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6. The most serious crimes are Class 1 felonies and, appropriately, conviction for these crimes carry the most serious penalties.

Although Colorado’s sentencing statutes set forth maximum sentences for each Class of felony or misdemeanor, the punishment for every felony is also determined through specific sentencing guidelines. These guidelines, called the Colorado Presumptive Penalties, were developed through the written statutes in the Colorado Criminal Code and case law. For example, the presumptive term of imprisonment for a Class 2 felony is eight to 24 years. If there are exceptional circumstances, either mitigating or aggravating, then the term of imprisonment could be between two and 48 years in prison.

Irrespective of the presumptive sentence,being charged with any crime under Colorado’s Criminal Code is stressful and, at times, overwhelming. Navigating the legal procedures and requirements you’ll need to build a defense in the State of Colorado requires both diligence and experience. If you are facing criminal charges, don’t do it alone.

An experienced Colorado lawyer can provide the appropriate advice and assistance. If you or someone you know is charged with a crime in Colorado, it is important to begin building a defense today.

Contact a Colorado criminal lawyer here.

Five Crimes Commonly Charged in Colorado

If you are arrested for a crime in Colorado, it is essential that you understand the charges against you and the potential penalty that will result from a conviction. Your best source of information regarding any criminal charge is a Colorado criminal lawyer. You should not hesitate to speak with a lawyer whenever you need information about a certain crime or advice in how best to address your unique circumstances.

Motor Vehicle Theft

In Colo. Rev. Stat § 18-4-409, motor vehicle theft is defined as: knowingly taking or exercising control over a motor vehicle belonging to another person. This statute of the Colorado Criminal Code covers the theft of any vehicle that runs on power, other than muscular. That means the law on motor vehicle theft applies to aircraft and boats, but excludes bicycles.

Colorado criminal laws recognize two degrees of motor vehicle theft. Both are referred to as aggravated motor vehicle theft, but the two are differentiated based on the severity of the crime and individuals are charged with either first or second degree motor vehicle theft.

Several factors will lead a prosecutor to seek the more serious charge of aggravated motor vehicle theft in the first degree and, absent these specific circumstances, an individual will be charged with the lesser crime. The circumstances that warrant more severe charge come into play when the defendant:

First degree motor vehicle theft is considered either a Class 3 or Class 4 felony depending on the value of the stolen vehicle, and the penalty for aggravated motor vehicle theft in the first degree can range from four to 12 years in prison for a class 3 felony, or two to six years in prison for a class 4 felony.

Motor vehicle theft in the second degree is the less serious crime and is considered either a Class 5 or 6 felony or a Class 1 misdemeanor based on the value of the stolen vehicle. Penalties for motor vehicle theft in the second degree range from six months to three years in prison, and all convictions for motor vehicle theft require revocation of the individual’s Colorado driver's license.

DUI

The Colorado statutes that regular vehicles and traffic are found in Title 42 of the Code, and it is here that you can find Colo. Rev. Stat. § 42-4-1301 - the law that prohibits and criminalizes driving under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance.

Colorado divides charges for driving a motor vehicle under the influence of drugs or alcohol into two categories. Driving under the influence (DUI) is the more serious offense, while driving while ability is impaired (DWAI) carries slightly less severe penalties. Under Colorado law, DUI is defined as operation of a motor vehicle by an individual over 21 who has a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08% or higher. An individual can be charged with DWAI when his or her BAC is between 0.05% and 0.08%.

An individual charged with DUI faces two types of penalties. The first is assessed by the Colorado Division of Motor Vehicles, and the second is imposed by a criminal court. Typically, the Division of Motor Vehicles mandates a license suspension upon conviction of DUI, and first-time offenders are subject to a mandatory three-month suspension.

In addition, criminal penalties can be substantial and may include up to 180 days in jail for a first-time DWAI offense or one year in jail for a first-time DUI conviction. Individuals whose records reflect previous DUI or DWAI convictions will face more serious criminal and administrative penalties.

Need a Colorado DUI lawyer? Find one here.

Sexual Assault and Sexual Conduct

To cover the varied actions and circumstances that fall under criminal conduct of a sexual nature, Colorado has established detailed and specific statutes pertaining to rape and sexual assault called “Unlawful Sexual Behavior” in Colo. Rev Stat. § 18-3-401 through § 18-3-417.

First, Colorado’s criminal code divides crimes of a sexual nature into two categories: sexual assault and sexual conduct. Each category covers a variety of circumstances, but they can be easily differentiated based on whether or not penetration occurred. Sexual assault requires penetration, while sexual conduct does not; however, Colorado law still considers the latter a serious crime.

Broadly defined, sexual assault is described as knowingly penetrating or sexually intruding upon an individual when it is against the victim’s will, when the offender knows the victim inaccurately believes the individual to be his or her spouse, or when purporting to offer medical treatment that is inconsistent with recognized medical practices. It is also considered sexual assault if the victim is incapable of understanding the sexual conduct; cannot provide consent due to being unconscious or asleep; is younger than 14 years old when the defendant is more than four years older; is younger than 16 and the defendant is at least 10 years older; the victim is incarcerated and under the control of the defendant.

Unlawful sexual conduct involves knowingly touching intimate parts of the victim’s body, forcing the victim to touch the defendant’s intimate parts, or touching over clothing that covers intimate parts if for the purpose of sexual arousal or similar reasons. Similarly, sexual conduct requires that the victim does not consent, cannot consent, does not understand the conduct, or is incarcerated and under the control of the defendant. The use of drugs, purporting to offer medical treatment, or knowingly inducing a minor to expose his or her intimate body parts, are also instances of unlawful sexual conduct.

Penalties for conviction of sexual assault and unlawful sexual conduct are extremely severe, and many of the most serious instances of sexual assault, which is a Class 2 felony, include a 48-year prison sentence. Fines imposed upon conviction for a sexual assault or unlawful sexual conduct are also significant. An individual charged with a Class 2 felony of sexual assault could face as much as $1,000,000 in fines. Someone convicted of unlawful sexual conduct as a Class 1 misdemeanor faces up to $5,000 in fines, in addition to a two-year prison sentence.

Need a sex crime attorney in Colorado? Find one here.

Theft

Under Colo. Sec. Rev. § 18-4-401, theft is knowingly obtaining or exercising control over the property of another person without the owner’s consent or permission. In many states, this is called larceny. To prove that a Colorado theft occurred, the State must provide evidence that the defendant intended to permanently deprive the rightful owner of the property knowingly used, concealed, or abandoned the property; or demanded undeserved payment in exchange for the property.

There are several classes of theft which are differentiated from one another based on the value of the property taken. The most serious charge, Class 3 felony theft, is applicable when the stolen property is valued at more than $20,000, while the least serious criminal charge, Class 2 misdemeanor theft, applies when the property value is less than $500. If the value of stolen goods is less than $50, Colorado considers the offense a petty theft, and it falls into a separate category of crime which is separate from felony or misdemeanor theft. Petty crimes, too, are divided into class 1 and class 2 offenses.

In Colorado, two other factors can influence the outcome in cases of more serious theft charges. The first of these is considered if the victim was disabled, elderly, or otherwise at risk, and the second contemplates the way the stolen items were obtained.

Under Colorado law, specific classifications of theft subject the offender to different potential penalties. If the theft involves property valued between $50 and $2,000, the theft is considered a misdemeanor and the maximum penalty is 18 months in jail and/or a fine of up to $5,000. If the value of the stolen property is higher than $2,000, the crime is ranked as a felony and the penalty can be between one year and 24 years in prison and/or a fine of up to $1,000,000.

Looking for theft lawyers in Colorado? Start your search here.

Murder

Murder is the most serious violent crime in the State of Colorado, and a convicted person can be punished with the most severe penalty -- capital punishment. The Colorado statute prohibits both murder in the first degree and murder in the second degree, and both are felonies.

First degree murder is defined in Colo. Rev. Stat. § 18-4-102, and it is a Class 1 felony. The minimum punishment for first degree murder is life in prison and the maximum sentence is the death penalty. The criminal code recognizes any of these offenses as murder in the first degree:

In Colorado, knowingly killing another person is considered second degree murder, as provided in Colo. Rev. Stat. § 18-3-103. A second-degree murder charge requires the prosecution to show that the defendant had the intent to commit homicide. Second degree murder is a Class 2 felony, and it is punishable by a prison sentence between eight and 48 years. Typically, Class 2 felonies in Colorado have a maximum sentence of 24 years in prison; however, for a violent crime, the prosecutor can seek a sentence twice that long. Individuals who committed murder in the heat of passion, based on a specific legal definition, are charged with a Class 3 felony, which will result in a maximum prison sentence of 24 years.

Need a murder attorney in Colorado? Find one here.

Other Crimes

Our criminal lawyers are prepared to defend a variety of crimes in Colorado, and our experience is not limited to the most common crimes in the state. Rather, it extends to defense of federal crimes and appellate level defense. Whether you are seeking a lawyer to defend you against charges of DUI, robbery, or even murder, we can help.

Importance of an Experienced Colorado Legal Defense Attorney

The criminal process in Colorado is both stressful and complicated. Even if you or a loved one are charged with a minor misdemeanor, defending you against the criminal charges can disrupt your financial goals, future plans, and important relationships. Also, conviction for a serious felony, such as burglary, arson, or murder, can create an insurmountable hurdle in your life.

We have established reputations for a client-oriented approach to criminal defense in Colorado. We are dedicated to understanding the charges against you, learning the exact circumstances of your case, and preparing an effective defense that keeps those specific elements in mind.

We stand ready to assist you in selecting the right Colorado criminal lawyer near you who can build a strong defense against any criminal charges.

[Disclaimer - this is not legal advice.]