The Difference Between Misdemeanor and Felony Assault Charges in Colorado
Jun 30
2026

Posted by: Jacob E. Martinez

Category: Assault | Felonies | Misdemeanors

Assault charges in Colorado can range from a misdemeanor accusation after a physical confrontation to a serious felony carrying years in prison. The difference usually depends on the alleged intent, the level of injury, whether a weapon was involved, and whether the alleged victim falls into a protected category under Colorado law.

That distinction matters immediately. A misdemeanor assault case may still carry jail time, fines, a permanent criminal record, and collateral consequences for employment, housing, licensing, and your reputation. [...]

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What Happens at a Denver Preliminary Hearing After Felony Arrest
Jun 19
2026

Posted by: Jacob E. Martinez

Category: Felonies | Preliminary Hearing

 

A preliminary hearing in a felony case in Colorado is one of the earliest opportunities for the prosecution’s evidence to be tested before a judge. It happens after charges have been filed and the defendant has made an initial appearance, but before the case moves into trial court. The hearing is not about deciding guilt or innocence. Instead, the court is checking whether the prosecution has sufficient evidence to move the case forward.

In Colorado, this stage is often [...]

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How Colorado’s Mandatory Minimum Sentences Impact Drug Crime Defense
Jun 1
2026

Posted by: Jacob E. Martinez

Category: Drug Crimes

Only one drug felony level in Colorado carries a true mandatory prison sentence. The other three carry presumptive ranges where a judge still has discretion, meaning the defense strategy in a DF2, DF3, or DF4 case looks completely different from that in a DF1 case. At the Law Office of Jacob Martinez, our Denver drug crimes attorney has spent more than a decade in Denver courts, working to achieve better outcomes for clients facing felony drug charges.

Only One Drug[...]
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Can Dash Cam Evidence Be Used to Challenge DUI Charges in Colorado?
May 25
2026

Posted by: Jacob E. Martinez

Category: Drunk Driving | DUI

Yes. Dash cam footage from police vehicles and your own camera can be used to challenge DUI charges in Colorado. The question is not whether it is relevant but whether you know how to obtain it, how Colorado courts evaluate it, and what a defense attorney actually does with it. The Law Office of Jacob E. Martinez has defended DUI cases throughout Denver and surrounding Colorado courts for more than 15 years.

What Colorado Police Dash Cams Actually Record at[...]
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Understanding Colorado’s Deferred Judgment and Sentence Options for First Offenders
May 1
2026

Posted by: Jacob E. Martinez

Category: First-Time Offenders | Sentencing

A deferred judgment and sentence allows a first-time offender in Colorado to plead guilty, complete a period of court supervision, and then have the guilty plea withdrawn and the charge dismissed permanently. For someone facing their first criminal charge, this is often the best available outcome.

At the Law Office of Jacob Martinez, our Denver criminal defense team has negotiated deferred judgment agreements in Colorado courts since 2014.

How a Deferred Judgment and Sentence Works in Colorado

The defendant enters [...]

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