Colorado Theft Laws: Penalties and Defense Strategies
July 1, 2025
Colorado law recognizes your right to protect your person, your property, and other people when unlawfully threatened. Unfortunately, while self-defense is a lawful and perfectly understandable instinct, proving that you were acting out of self-defense in court is an incredibly difficult task.
In Colorado, the laws determining whether you acted in self-defense are not hard and fast ones, since many judges have differing views on what it means to protect yourself. If you use physical force to defend yourself, you [...]
While our nation’s youth crime rates have declined considerably in the last 20 years, the US continues to put more children and teenagers in juvenile detention centers than any other developed country. Our juvenile incarceration rate is seven times higher than Britain’s, and 18 times higher than France’s rate. Each year, we spend millions of taxpayer dollars keeping children and teens behind bars.
While these numbers are frightening on their own, it’s even more frightening to consider the effects of [...]
For some, it’s considered the season of giving. For others, it’s the season of shopping. But for as many as one in 11 Americans, it’s also the season of shoplifting.
The world has a serious shoplifting problem as it is—last year alone, it was estimated that retailers lost $112 billion worth of inventory. In America, the shoplifting problem only worsens during the holidays, when research shows that national shoplifting arrests increase nearly nine percent. The struggling economy has had an [...]
In adult society today, alcohol is almost everywhere we look—beer has become a central point of social gatherings, a rum and coke helps us break the ice in bars, a glass of wine helps us unwind after a long day at the office. While the prevalence of alcohol in today’s society is something that many of us have become accustomed to, the fact that it has become such an accepted part of how we socialize is something we need [...]
The holidays are upon us already, and even though your stomach may still be recovering from the Thanksgiving feast, Christmas and New Years are just around the corner – not to mention another month (or, hopefully, two!) of tailgating at Broncos games.
But you should be worried about a lot more than putting on a few extra pounds this holiday season. According to this eye-opening infographic, there’s a 33% jump in DUI offenses between Blackout Wednesday and January 2[...]
In Colorado, you can be charged with theft even if you didn’t actually steal anything.
State law focuses on intent, not just action. Holding onto lost property, keeping something delivered by mistake, or even being misunderstood can lead to serious charges.
That’s why it’s crucial to understand how Colorado theft laws operate, what the actual penalties entail, and why consulting a Denver, CO criminal defense lawyer at the Law Office of Jacob Martinez as soon as possible could make a [...]
Carrying a concealed weapon is a serious responsibility—and in Colorado, the laws around it can be more complicated than they seem. If you carry a firearm or are thinking about getting a permit, it’s essential to understand your rights and obligations under state law. Because when things go wrong, they can go very wrong.
Even a simple mistake—like carrying in a restricted area or letting your permit lapse—can lead to criminal charges. That’s why knowing the law and calling a [...]
You might have heard police say, “You have the right to remain silent,” on TV or in movies. That’s part of what’s called Miranda rights. But these rights aren’t just for drama, they protect you in real life, especially if you’re questioned by police in Denver. Understanding and exercising these rights can make a big difference in your freedom and future.
If you find yourself in a situation where police are questioning you, it’s important to speak with a Denver [...]