Understanding Colorado’s Deferred Judgment and Sentence Options for First Offenders
May 1, 2026
Even though most of us use them every single day, motor vehicles are one of the most dangerous creations that humanity has ever designed. We take thousands of pounds of machinery and send it hurtling down roads at high speeds. Because of this, serious accidents – even deadly ones – are not a matter of if, but when. It’s the reason why people have to take classes and pass tests in order to get behind the wheel. Driving is a [...]
Vehicular assault is a serious offense in Colorado, and the consequences can be severe. A recent news story that illustrates this is the case of a Colorado Springs man charged with vehicular assault after a crash that injured two people. According to reports, the man was driving under the influence when he crashed into a vehicle, causing severe injuries to the driver and passenger. The man was arrested at the scene and charged with vehicular assault, DUI, and other related [...]
Accidents, especially involving vehicles, happen. It’s a part of the risk everyone accepts when they get behind the wheel. But when someone in a vehicle strikes and harms another, or kills them, then it’s more than just a simple accident in the eyes of the law.
In certain situations, injuring or killing another person in an accident may be a crime. In Colorado, vehicular assault or vehicular homicide may come into play.
Below, we’ll cover what you need to know [...]
Accidents happen. But when someone strikes and hurts – or even kills – another person with a car, it can be more than just an accident.
You find examples of these tragedies almost anywhere. For example, this year a man in Lakewood got behind the wheel while intoxicated. He was charged with vehicular homicide after he hit and killed a cyclist.
Still, when does an incident turn from an accident into something more, like vehicular assault or homicide? Read on [...]
A deferred judgment and sentence allows a first-time offender in Colorado to plead guilty, complete a period of court supervision, and then have the guilty plea withdrawn and the charge dismissed permanently. For someone facing their first criminal charge, this is often the best available outcome.
At the Law Office of Jacob Martinez, our Denver criminal defense team has negotiated deferred judgment agreements in Colorado courts since 2014.
How a Deferred Judgment and Sentence Works in ColoradoThe defendant enters [...]
Eyewitness testimony is undeniably a powerful form of evidence in criminal cases. However, there have been studies showing it is also one of the leading causes of wrongful convictions in Denver and across the United States. This suggests that human memory is not perfect and that some situations can lead to errors in identification.
In Denver, cases involving eyewitness misidentification span a wide range of crimes. You must defend against wrongful convictions, which requires a detailed review of the circumstances [...]
Violating a Colorado protection order can trigger a new criminal charge and contempt proceedings in the same court, and any new sentence must be served back-to-back with the sentence you were already facing, not at the same time. That means a single phone call, text message, or chance encounter can double your exposure while you are still on bond or probation. Denver criminal defense attorneys at the Law Office of Jacob Martinez have defended clients against these charges across Colorado [...]