Understanding Colorado’s Deferred Judgment and Sentence Options for First Offenders
May 1, 2026
Possession of certain drugs results in tougher sentencing if you are caught with them. This is true in Colorado just like it is elsewhere across the United States.
Because of this, we thought it might be useful to break down how drugs are penalized so that you can learn which controlled substances are the “worst” to possess and work to avoid drug charges.
Categorizing Controlled Substances: The Colorado Drug SchedulesThe state of Colorado has grouped drugs into “schedules,” or [...]
A recent drug bust in Colorado Springs uncovered a huge stash of heroin and methamphetamine worth millions. This bust will come with heavy penalties for the offenders.
In the recent sting operation, the Metro Vice Narcotics and Intelligence Unit seized almost 11 pounds of heroin, valued at $2.4 million on the streets. They also seized over 38 pounds of methamphetamine, which is valued at $6.3 million on the streets. A stash of firearms, two grams of cocaine and $24,000 in [...]
If you are facing drug charges in Colorado, you have several options when putting together your defense. Which strategy to use will depend upon the facts of your specific situation – something a knowledgeable criminal lawyer will be able to help you with.
That being said, knowing the various potential defenses that may be able to help you can be valuable. Because of that, in this post we are going to cover a number of common defenses to drug charges [...]
While the country’s attention has shifted in recent months from events like Black Lives Matter protests to major goings-on inside the White House and Congress, the fight to end oppression of black people is not over.
The road to equality is filled with roadblocks, especially ones that concern our criminal justice system. If you consider the evidence, it is very hard to deny the fact that black people are being treated unfairly by this system.
Still not convinced? Look at [...]
These days, when you read about drug crimes in Colorado, you’ve probably come to expect that they are concerning one drug in particular: marijuana.
Since the legalization of marijuana, Colorado has experienced decreases in some marijuana-related crimes, but also increased domestic trafficking and conflicts with neighboring states frustrated by the law.
But by focusing on marijuana, we may be ignoring other drugs in Colorado. The ones that are still completely illegal.
And the use of these drugs is quickly increasing [...]
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 ColoradoThe defendant enters [...]
Eyewitness testimony is undeniably a powerful form of evidence in criminal cases. However, there have been studies showing it is also one of the leading causes of wrongful convictions in Denver and across the United States. This suggests that human memory is not perfect and that some situations can lead to errors in identification.
In Denver, cases involving eyewitness misidentification span a wide range of crimes. You must defend against wrongful convictions, which requires a detailed review of the circumstances [...]
Violating a Colorado protection order can trigger a new criminal charge and contempt proceedings in the same court, and any new sentence must be served back-to-back with the sentence you were already facing, not at the same time. That means a single phone call, text message, or chance encounter can double your exposure while you are still on bond or probation. Denver criminal defense attorneys at the Law Office of Jacob Martinez have defended clients against these charges across Colorado [...]