Understanding Colorado’s Deferred Judgment and Sentence Options for First Offenders
May 1, 2026
You’re never too old for Halloween. Every year, thousands of adults join in on the Halloween spirit by dressing up and attending parties. The key difference to many adult celebrations, however, is the inclusion of alcohol.
Although these festivities are good-natured fun, whenever there’s alcohol involved, there’s a risk. In fact, October 31st has one of the highest rates for vehicle accidents and fatalities associated with driving under the influence.
Halloween Drinking and Driving Accidents by the NumbersResearch shows [...]
If you’ve been arrested for a DUI, you probably have many questions on your mind. This is understandable — getting caught driving under the influence, even for first-time offenders, can yield significant consequences.
Colorado is actually one of the toughest states in the nation for this offense. To help Coloradans facing a DUI charge, we answer a few of the most common questions we hear from our clients.
Remember that every DUI case is different, and that you should consult [...]
Operating a motor vehicle in Colorado under the influence of, while impaired from, or with an excessive internal alcoholic content all fall under the umbrella of “Driving Under the Influence,” or DUI.
There are a number of penalties in place for violation of DUI law in our state, including the requirement to pay a fine, report to a probation officer, complete counseling, and perform community service. However, under certain circumstances you may be granted a deferred judgement.
What does this [...]
As a parent, St. Paddy’s Day doesn’t necessarily bring the same excitement that it used to. Teens and college kids throughout the country use the day as an excuse to wear green, drink loads of beer, and try to feel the “Luck of the Irish.” Parents, in contrast, get to worry about their kids making stupid decisions.
For most kids, the holiday passes largely without incident. Unfortunately, some underage kids in Colorado see their luck run out when the police [...]
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first-time offender in Colorado to plead guilty, complete a period of court supervision, and then have the guilty plea withdrawn and the charge dismissed permanently.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 [...]