When Denver Police Use Confidential Informants: How the Defense Challenges Reliability
September 12, 2026
Being accused of a crime can be a stressful and overwhelming experience, especially if you know you are innocent. In Colorado, being falsely accused of a crime can have significant legal and personal consequences.
Stay Calm and Don’t PanicIf you’re falsely accused of a Colorado crime, the first thing to do is stay calm and avoid panicking. It is important to remain composed and avoid reacting in a way that could worsen the situation. Don’t argue with the police [...]
When facing criminal charges in Colorado, one option that defendants may consider is accepting a plea deal. A plea deal is an agreement between the prosecution and the defendant in which the defendant agrees to plead guilty or no contest to a criminal charge in exchange for certain concessions from the prosecution, such as a reduced sentence or dismissal of some charges. While a plea deal can have some benefits, there are also potential drawbacks. This post will explore the [...]
In Colorado, one of the first things you’ll need to know is how the bail process works. Bail is a payment made to the court in exchange for release from jail before trial. In this blog post, we’ll discuss the Colorado bail process and what you need to know if you’ve been arrested.
Types of Bail in ColoradoColorado has three types of bail: personal recognizance, cash bail, and surety bond.
Personal recognizance (PR) bail is a promise to appear [...]
Choosing your criminal defense lawyer is one of the most important things you’ll ever do. If you find yourself in a position where you’re being charged with a crime, then your choice of a lawyer may literally be the difference between imprisonment and freedom.
What should you look for in a Colorado criminal defense team? Here are some of the most important attributes you should look for to understand if the attorney you’re considering is the right one for you [...]
The current economic climate is causing experts to predict a variety of things – one of which is crime.
The impact of COVID-19 is far-reaching, and Denver police are preparing for an uptick in crime related to the economic downturn. In fact, they’re studying data from the last major recessions for clues as to what can be expected. However, this time they have something new to contend with: policing reforms.
No matter the reforms on the table, one thing is [...]
A confidential informant almost never speaks to the judge who signs the warrant. Instead, the judge reads a detective’s sworn summary of what an unnamed person allegedly said. That gap can become one of the most important issues in a Denver drug, weapons, theft, or other criminal case.
The defense does not cross-examine the informant when the warrant is issued. At that stage, the focus is on the affidavit itself: what the informant allegedly knew, how police verified the information, [...]
Colorado fentanyl possession charges can become serious felonies at relatively low weight thresholds. The law focuses on the weight of the material, compound, mixture, or preparation containing fentanyl rather than only the amount of pure fentanyl inside it. That means a small-looking quantity of powder or counterfeit pills can result in a much more serious charge once the substance is tested and weighed.
Weight is only part of the case. What the accused person knew, whether the state can prove [...]
Colorado COCCA charges are racketeering charges used when prosecutors claim a person participated in an enterprise through a pattern of criminal activity. These cases often grow out of drug, theft, burglary, fraud, identity theft, or financial investigations that are later reframed as organized conduct.
A COCCA count is not automatic just because several people were charged together or because prosecutors believe more than one crime occurred. The state must prove specific structural elements, including an enterprise and a pattern of [...]