Criminal Defense Attorneys in Denver, Colorado

A charge is an accusation, not a verdict. Our attorneys defend people facing state and federal charges in Denver and across Colorado, and we treat the government's case as something to be tested rather than accepted.

Because a large share of our practice involves suing police departments for misconduct, we come to criminal cases already fluent in how stops, searches, interrogations, and reports actually get built. That perspective frequently surfaces problems in the state's case that a routine defense would leave alone.

Charges We Defend

• Assault and violent offenses: first, second, and third degree assault, menacing, and homicide charges.
• Domestic violence: including mandatory arrest cases and protection order violations.
• Drug offenses: possession, distribution, and manufacturing charges, including cases built on questionable searches or confidential informants.
• DUI and DWAI: first offenses through felony DUI, license revocation hearings, and challenges to stops and testing procedures.
• Weapons charges: unlawful possession, possession by a previous offender, and possession during another alleged offense.
• Theft, burglary, and property offenses: including aggregated theft and criminal mischief.
• White collar and fraud: forgery, identity theft, and financial crime allegations.
• Sex offenses: defense in cases carrying registration and indeterminate sentencing exposure.
• Probation and parole violations: revocation hearings and alternatives to incarceration.
• Juvenile matters: delinquency proceedings and record expungement.
• Federal charges: matters in the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado.

What to Expect in a Colorado Criminal Case

1. Arrest or summons. The case begins with custody or a citation ordering you to appear.
2. First appearance and bond. The court sets conditions of release. This is an early opportunity for defense counsel to affect your liberty and your restrictions.
3. Filing of charges and arraignment. The prosecution formally states the charges and you enter a plea. Do not enter a plea without counsel.
4. Discovery and investigation. We obtain police reports, body camera and dash camera footage, dispatch audio, lab results, and witness statements, and we conduct our own investigation.
5. Pretrial motions. Motions to suppress evidence from an unlawful stop or search, to exclude unreliable identifications, or to dismiss for insufficient evidence.
6. Negotiation. Dismissal, diversion, a deferred judgment, or a reduced charge, negotiated from a position of preparation rather than pressure.
7. Trial. If the offer does not reflect the strength of the case, we try it.
8. Sentencing and post-conviction. Advocacy at sentencing, plus appeals, reconsideration, and record sealing where available.

Record Sealing and Expungement

A closed case still shows up in background checks. Colorado allows sealing of many dismissed and acquitted cases, most petty offenses and misdemeanors after a waiting period, and a range of felonies depending on the offense class. Juvenile adjudications may be eligible for expungement. Sealing can restore access to housing, employment, and professional licensing, and it is often the single most valuable thing we do for a client after a case ends. We are glad to review your record and tell you what is eligible.

If Your Arrest Involved Police Misconduct

Excessive force during an arrest, an unlawful search, or a retaliatory charge can be both a defense in the criminal case and the basis for a separate civil claim. Because we handle both, we can protect the criminal defense first and preserve the civil claim rather than trading one away for the other. See our Civil Rights practice for more.