When Denver Police Use Confidential Informants: How the Defense Challenges Reliability
September 12, 2026
If someone is accused of shoplifting at a retail location, it is not only embarrassing for the accused, but also burdensome for the owners or employees of the retail store. It can take some time for police to arrive at the scene and properly arrest a shoplifter, and the store may have other responsibilities to law enforcement after the individual has been arrested and faces time in court.
It’s even worse for retail giants like Walmart, who have become been [...]
There are many misconceptions behind shoplifting. While many people place the blame on rowdy teenagers or seasoned criminals, the more common causes are often ignored. Most shoplifters are employed, nonviolent adults who are struggling with psychological issues or conflicts.
Just like there are many different types of retail theft, there are many different reasons behind shoplifting. If you or someone you love has been charged with this offense, seek out a knowledgeable retail theft lawyer who has successfully handled cases [...]
Shoplifting. Fuel piracy. Theft by resale of a lift ticket.
These are all activities that may constitute theft crimes under Colorado law. But while theft crimes may take many different forms in Colorado, all theft crimes typically involve knowingly taking or exercising control over someone else’s assets, property, or something else of value without their permission.
Recently, Colorado law enforcement officials have had to deal with an increase in car thefts, worries over water theft by marijuana growers, and even [...]
When they find themselves face-to-face with authority figures, people will often back themselves into corners by immediately surrendering rights that they don’t realize they have. This is common in situations like drug busts or speeding citations, but it can also apply at other times as well, such as when an individual is accused of shoplifting.
Even though shoplifting may seem like a relatively minor crime, it can be more serious than many people realize, and you need someone experienced on [...]
A confidential informant almost never speaks to the judge who signs the warrant. Instead, the judge reads a detective’s sworn summary of what an unnamed person allegedly said. That gap can become one of the most important issues in a Denver drug, weapons, theft, or other criminal case.
The defense does not cross-examine the informant when the warrant is issued. At that stage, the focus is on the affidavit itself: what the informant allegedly knew, how police verified the information, [...]
Colorado fentanyl possession charges can become serious felonies at relatively low weight thresholds. The law focuses on the weight of the material, compound, mixture, or preparation containing fentanyl rather than only the amount of pure fentanyl inside it. That means a small-looking quantity of powder or counterfeit pills can result in a much more serious charge once the substance is tested and weighed.
Weight is only part of the case. What the accused person knew, whether the state can prove [...]
Colorado COCCA charges are racketeering charges used when prosecutors claim a person participated in an enterprise through a pattern of criminal activity. These cases often grow out of drug, theft, burglary, fraud, identity theft, or financial investigations that are later reframed as organized conduct.
A COCCA count is not automatic just because several people were charged together or because prosecutors believe more than one crime occurred. The state must prove specific structural elements, including an enterprise and a pattern of [...]