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Understanding Colorado’s Stand Your Ground Laws in Self-Defense Claims

Aug 26
2025

Posted by: Jacob E. Martinez

Category: Stand Your Ground Laws

Self-defense is one of the most frequently raised arguments in Colorado criminal cases involving assault, homicide, or weapons charges. When a person believes their safety is threatened, the law allows them to use reasonable force to protect themselves. However, the scope of that right depends on the circumstances. While some states have explicit “stand your ground” statutes, Colorado takes a different approach, blending principles of the Castle Doctrine, the state’s “Make My Day” law, and court rulings that have shaped [...]

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Raising Self-Defense in Assault Cases

May 26
2025

Posted by: Jacob E. Martinez

Category: Assault | Self Defense

If you’re facing assault charges but only acted to defend yourself, it can feel confusing and unfair. Proving self-defense isn’t always easy because the law looks closely at whether your response was reasonable.

At the Law Office of Jacob Martinez, our experienced Denver, CO assault defense lawyers have helped over a thousand people in situations just like yours. You tried to protect yourself—or someone else—and now you’re caught in a legal system that doesn’t always see the full picture.

We’re [...]

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How Colorado Handles Self-Defense in Domestic Violence Cases

Dec 1
2021

Posted by: Jacob E. Martinez

Category: Domestic Violence | Self Defense

Domestic violence is a serious offense in Colorado, and the laws clearly outline what the justice system considers domestic violence.

While the definition of domestic violence may be clear in the state, the idea that someone was defending themselves against the abuse of another isn’t as clear. It’s common in domestic violence cases for the party being accused of domestic violence to say they were only acting in self-defense. However, anyone claiming self-defense can only argue it successfully in court [...]

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CASE RESULTS

PEOPLE V. V.A.

Jury Trial - Not Guilty

Denver Vehicular Homicide

[...]

PEOPLE V. E.H.

Jury Trial - Not Guilty

Arapahoe 1st Degree Assault/Vehicular Assault[...]

PEOPLE V. I.A.

Jury Trial - Not Guilty

Denver Domestic Violence Assault Case[...]

PEOPLE V. C.J.

Jury Trial - Not Guilty

Denver D.V. Assault[...]

PEOPLE V. H.M.

Jury Trial - Not Guilty

Denver Careless Driving Resulting in Death[...]

PEOPLE V. A.T.

Jury Trial - Not Guilty

Jefferson County Felony Menacing[...]

PEOPLE V. E.C.

Jury Trial - Not Guilty

Adams County DUI[...]

PEOPLE V. B.H.

Jury Trial - Not Guilty

Jefferson County DUI[...]

PEOPLE V. J.G.

Jury Trial - Not Guilty

Jefferson County DUI[...]

PEOPLE V. J.P.

Jury Trial - Not Guilty

Jefferson Vehicular Assault/DUI[...]

PEOPLE V. D.C

Jury Trial - Not Guilty

Jefferson County DUI[...]

PEOPLE V. J.E.

Jury Trial - Not Guilty

Boulder County DUI case[...]

PEOPLE V. J.M.

Jury Trial - Not Guilty

Arapahoe County DUI case[...]

PEOPLE V. J.S.

Jury Trial - Not Guilty

Adams County DUI case[...]

PEOPLE V. S.C.

Jury Trial - Not Guilty

Douglas County DUI case[...]

PEOPLE V. T.T.

Jury Trial - Not Guilty

Gilpin County DUI case[...]

PEOPLE V. D.D.

Dismissed

Broomfield County Probation Revocation case[...]

PEOPLE V. M.H.

Dismissal

Arapahoe County DUI case[...]

PEOPLE V. T.L.

Deferred Judgment

Arapahoe County DUI case[...]

PEOPLE V. T.K.

Deferred Judgment

Douglas County DUI case[...]

PEOPLE V. B.R.

Deferred Judgment

Larimer County DUI case[...]

PEOPLE V. S.M.

Deferred Judgment

Arapahoe County DUI Case[...]

PEOPLE V. C.C.

Deferred Judgment

Denver Felony Burglary Case[...]

PEOPLE V. S.R.

Deferred Judgment

Arapahoe County DUI case[...]

PEOPLE V. P.D.

Dismissed

Arapahoe County Protection Order Case[...]

PEOPLE V. A.C.

Dismissed

Golden Destruction of Property case[...]

PEOPLE V. S.S.

Dismissed

Jefferson County Protection Order case[...]

PEOPLE V. K.B.

Dismissed

Jefferson County Domestic Violence case[...]

PEOPLE V. A.T.

Dismissed and Sealed

Jefferson County DUI case[...]

PEOPLE V. K.U.

Dismissed

Denver Major Traffic Offense case[...]

PEOPLE V. M.D.

Dismissed and Sealed

Broomfield County Domestic Violence case[...]

PEOPLE V. E.M.

Dismissed

Summit County DUI Revocation[...]

PEOPLE V. C.S.

Dismissed

Denver DUI Revocation[...]

PEOPLE V. A.N.

Dismissed

Denver DUI Revocation[...]

PEOPLE V. C.S.

Dismissed

Denver DUI +.2 Involving Accident and Injury case[...]

PEOPLE V. R.D.

Dismissed

Denver DUI/Habitual Traffic Offender case[...]

PEOPLE V. J.G.

DISMISSAL

Denver District Aggravated Theft[...]

PEOPLE V. T.M.

Dismissed

Greenwood Village Assault case[...]

PEOPLE V. L.E.

Dismissal

Elbert County DUI[...]

PEOPLE V. F.G.

Dismissed

Arapahoe County Domestic Violence case[...]

PEOPLE V. E.K.

Dismissal

Jefferson County DUI[...]

PEOPE V. H.L.

Dismissal

Denver Municipal Assault[...]

PEOPLE V. C.B.

Dismissed

Boulder County Domestic Violence Assault case[...]

PEOPLE V. C.O.

Dismissed

Wheat Ridge Assault case[...]

PEOPLE V. D.D.

Dismissed

Jefferson County DUI case, with 2+ Prior Convictions[...]

PEOPLE V. H.K.

Dismissed

Arapahoe County Domestic Violence case[...]

PEOPLE V. J.J.

Dismissed

Broomfield County Domestic Violence case[...]

PEOPLE V. M.N.

Dismissed with No Charges Filed

Jefferson County Felony Theft case[...]

PEOPLE V. D.C.Z.

Dismissed

Arapahoe County Felony Theft case[...]

PEOPLE V. C.V.

Dismissed

Boulder County Felony Theft case[...]

CRIMINAL DEFENSE BLOG

October 27, 2026

Defending Colorado Identity Theft and Financial Exploitation Charges

Defending against Colorado identity theft and financial exploitation charges often begins with a close look at what prosecutors can actually prove about knowledge, intent, permission, authority, and the movement or use of money and identifying information.

Colorado identity theft can be charged as a class 4 felony, while criminal exploitation of an at-risk person involving $500 or more can be charged as a class 3 felony. Related allegations may also involve possession of financial devices, gathering identity information by deception, [...]

October 19, 2026

Colorado Sexual Assault Statute of Limitations: How Timing Affects Prosecution

There is no single statute of limitations that applies to every Colorado sexual assault or sex crime allegation. Depending on the exact charge, the alleged victim’s age, when the conduct allegedly occurred, whether DNA evidence identifies a suspect, when the offense was reported, and whether the accused spent time outside Colorado, prosecutors may have 20 years, a different statutory period, or no time limit at all.

Those distinctions matter most when an allegation surfaces years or even decades after the [...]

September 22, 2026

How Colorado Extradition Works for Out-of-State Criminal Charges

Extradition is about where a criminal case will be handled—not whether the person is guilty. If someone is arrested in Colorado on another state’s warrant, the immediate questions are usually whether to waive extradition, whether bail is available, how long the process may take, and what can actually be challenged before the person is returned.

The same issue can run in the other direction. A person may be arrested in another state because Colorado issued the warrant. In that situation, [...]

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