When Denver Police Use Confidential Informants: How the Defense Challenges Reliability
September 12, 2026
The roads are congested, shopping malls are packed, and the in-laws are visiting—it’s natural to feel a little extra stress around the holiday season. But when feelings of stress escalate into angry and abusive behavior, that’s when domestic violence crimes occur. Studies show that domestic violence increases during the holidays, when cooking, shopping, hectic schedules, and a myriad of other factors can evoke feelings of frustration and irritation.
When discussing the prevalence of holiday domestic violence in a CBS News [...]
In Arapahoe County court, Denver DUI attorney Jacob E. Martinez successfully negotiated a resolution in which his client, who had originally been charged with DUI, was able to avoid an alcohol-related conviction, even though her BAC was above the legal limit. After carefully analyzing the police contact in the case, Mr. Martinez discovered that there was a distinct possibility that his client had been subjected to an unlawful Fourth Amendment search and seizure.
The Fourth Amendment to the United States [...]
In Arapahoe County court, Denver Domestic Violence attorney Jacob E. Martinez achieved complete dismissal of all charges in a case where his client faced domestic violence and child abuse counts. After carefully reviewing all police reports, as well as after interviewing those involved, it became clear to Mr. Martinez that his client was in fact herself the victim on the night in question.
Mr. Martinez presented this information to prosecutors, and, after multiple communications, prosecutors agreed to dismiss all charges [...]
When you hire an attorney, you want to feel confident that he or she knows what they are doing and will put in every effort to make sure that you get the best possible outcome in your case. This is especially true for people who are facing criminal charges, because in many cases you are literally putting your life in the hands of your lawyer. It takes a lot of faith and trust to do that, and it can relieve [...]
Recently, Denver criminal defense and DUI attorney Jacob E. Martinez earned a perfect 10.0 on the industry-leading attorney rating website, Avvo. Avvo determines its scores — which range from 0.0 to 10.0 — based upon a combination of factors including experience, industry recognition, professional conduct, and professional recognition and accomplishment.
By achieving a perfect 10.0 on Avvo, Mr. Martinez has demonstrated he is a the top of his profession in his areas of practice. Mr. Martinez is excited and honored [...]
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 [...]