The Difference Between Misdemeanor and Felony Assault Charges in Colorado
June 30, 2026
In the vibrant city of Denver, opportunities for a fresh start abound, and one crucial aspect that plays a pivotal role in rebuilding lives is the sealing of criminal records. For individuals who have faced legal challenges in the past, the impact of a sealed record goes beyond just legal benefits. It opens doors to a renewed chance at securing stable housing, making the connection between a clean slate and housing opportunities in Denver a matter of utmost importance.
Understanding[...]
Your child may have the good grades, the extra-curricular activities, and the impressive SAT scores, but if your college-bound teen has a criminal record, their chances of getting into college are severely limited.
The vast majority of universities and colleges—including the almost 500 institutions that use the Common Application—require applicants to provide information on their criminal history. Many institutions require prospective students to check a box admitting to previous run-ins with the law, while others perform background checks on all [...]
Thanks to the internet, it’s now easier than ever to access a criminal record. With a quick search online, a potential employer, landlord, or romantic interest can instantly uncover all the details of any criminal activity in your past, including convictions, charges, and arrests. Upon discovering this information, someone might decide to deny you a job, refuse to rent property to you, decline your request for a loan, or keep you from being accepted into a college.
It doesn’t matter [...]
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. [...]
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 [...]
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[...]