How Plea Bargaining Works in Denver Criminal Court Cases
July 29, 2026
Put simply, as a criminal justice attorney, I help ordinary people navigate the often confusing and intimidating criminal justice system in Denver and surrounding areas.
But what are the specific duties and services a criminal justice attorney like me provides for his or her clients? Here I’ll outline what you should expect from a capable attorney throughout the entire process of a case—before, during, and after a trial.
Why Hire a Defense Attorney?The courts do allow you to represent [...]
Colorado has its share of violent crimes, and some counties see quite a bit more than others. Not surprisingly, law enforcement officials tend to police “known” violent areas more closely. But how do you know where the most violence occurs in our state?
Using the data collection site, Graphiq, we produced a map from violent crime reports in 2013, the most recent FBI statistics available.
The statistics from the FBI include a number of crimes under these terms. Violent crime, [...]
When you hear “crimes against the government,” it may call to mind high-level federal crimes like espionage and terrorism. Because the American government is large and powerful, it may seem very difficult for one individual to commit a crime that directly affects the government in any meaningful way.
The truth is that crimes against the government do include terrorism and espionage, but also cover much lesser crimes that occur on a state level, like resisting arrest or perjury. All charges [...]
Few experiences are more isolating than being charged with a crime.
After being arrested and charged with a criminal offense, you may find that your friends, coworkers, and colleagues pull away, and strangers who hear about the incident interact with you differently. You may lose your job and find it difficult to secure another one due to employers’ reluctance to trust you or potentially place other staff members in harm’s way. Close family members may want to help you, but [...]
You know the drill. “Everything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law.”
Even if you’ve never been arrested, you’ve probably heard the Miranda rights in movies or TV shows. But your words aren’t the only thing that can be used to incriminate you. Your searches, emails, accounts, and other activity onlin could be uncovered and used against you as well.
Under US law, certain government agencies, administrative agencies, and courts are allowed to [...]
Most criminal cases in Denver do not end with a jury verdict. They end with a decision: whether to accept a plea agreement, reject the offer, keep negotiating, or prepare for trial. That decision can shape your record, your freedom, your sentence, your probation terms, and your future long after the court date.
A plea bargain is not just “taking a deal.” It is a legal agreement that may involve reduced charges, dismissed counts, sentencing limits, probation terms, restitution, treatment [...]
A police crash report can make a serious collision look settled before the defense has examined the evidence. It may assign fault, estimate speed, describe the point of impact, and frame the driver’s conduct as reckless or impaired. In a Denver vehicular assault case, those early conclusions can influence charging decisions, plea negotiations, and how prosecutors present the case.
The problem is that a police report is not proof. Officers often prepare crash reports based on witness statements, final vehicle [...]
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. [...]