The Difference Between Misdemeanor and Felony Assault Charges in Colorado
June 30, 2026
Entrapment, a legal defense strategy, asserts that individuals were induced or persuaded by law enforcement to commit a crime they otherwise would not have committed. In Colorado, this defense can be pivotal in solicitation cases, where individuals are accused of attempting to persuade others to engage in criminal activity. Understanding the concept of entrapment, its application under Colorado law, and the burden of proof required to establish it as a defense is crucial for those facing solicitation charges and their [...]
In this digital age, our lives are increasingly intertwined with social media and online platforms. While this has brought many benefits, it has also given rise to new challenges, including the issue of online solicitation.
In Denver, as in many other jurisdictions, solicitation via social media platforms is a serious offense with legal consequences that can have a lasting impact on one’s life. In this blog, we’ll examine the implications of alleged solicitation via social media platforms, including the legal [...]
In the state of Colorado, you don’t need to actively participate in a crime in order to be charged with a role in it. One of the ways this can happen is through solicitation of a crime.
While most people think about solicitation in terms of prostitution, the truth is that there are many non-sexual ways to commit this crime.
Here’s what you need to know about criminal solicitation and the penalties you can face if you’re charged with it.[...]
Arguing for the legalization of prostitution would not seem to be a viable platform for a politician, and it’s hard to imagine such a thing happening within our lifetimes. However, more and more, it appears to be becoming a question of serious public and social debate.
Most recently, Amnesty International caught a lot of attention in late July when the human rights group released a draft proposal calling for the decriminalization of all “aspects of consensual sex work.” The Internet [...]
In criminal law, you can be prosecuted for crimes that didn’t ever actually come to fruition. These crimes are called inchoate crimes, meaning that the attempt at the crime was unsuccessful or incomplete. Although the actions in and of themselves may not be criminal, inchoate crimes are prosecutable as a way to deter criminal behavior.
Attempt, conspiracy, and solicitation are all considered inchoate crimes. Here’s what you need to know about these crimes to protect yourself from crimes that can [...]
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[...]