- Fax: 720-918-2906
- 11990 Grant Street, Suite 550, Northglenn, CO 80233
Denver Violent Crimes Lawyer
Former Prosecutor, Lori Beck, Will Fight for Your Freedom
Free Consultation Call 24/7
720-209-1469
Aggressive Defense for Violent Crime Charges
Important: Violent crime charges in Colorado carry mandatory minimum sentences and enhanced penalties. Every day you wait gives the prosecution more time to build their case against you.
What Should You Do If You're Facing Weapons Charges?
🛑 Take Immediate Steps to Protect Yourself 🛑
Exercise Your Right to Remain Silent
Don’t explain yourself to police without an attorney present. Even innocent explanations can be misinterpreted as admissions of guilt.
Don’t Consent to Searches
You have the right to refuse consent to searches. Make it clear you do not consent, even if officers proceed anyway.
Document Everything
Write down everything you remember about your arrest and the circumstances. This information can be crucial for building your defense.
Contact Experienced Defense Counsel Immediately
Weapons charges require specialized knowledge. Prosecutors begin building their case from the moment of arrest—don’t wait to get representation.
— Facing Colorado Violent Crime Charges —
What Constitutes a Violent Crime in Colorado?
Violent Crimes in Colorado
Violent crimes involve the use of force or the threat of force to cause injury or death to another person. However, "injury" doesn't necessarily have to be physical—emotional harm and the threat of violence can also qualify.
Common Violent Crime Charges Include:
- Murder and manslaughter
- Aggravated assault and battery
- Robbery and aggravated robbery
- Sexual assault and sexual offenses
- Kidnapping and false imprisonment
- Domestic violence (when involving violence or threats)
- First-degree burglary (entering to commit violence)
- First-degree arson (when endangering lives)
Penalties for violent crimes depend on the severity of the charges, the nature of the crime, the extent of any victim’s injuries, and the victim’s characteristics (such as age or vulnerability).
Former Prosecutor’s Advantage
- Insider knowledge of how prosecutors build violent crime cases
- Understanding of evidence evaluation and case weaknesses
- Experience with plea negotiations at the highest levels
- Trial expertise in high-stakes violent crime cases
- Relationships with prosecutors and judges built over 24+ years
— Facing Colorado Violent Crime Charges —
You Can't Afford to Go It Alone
The Stakes Are Too High
Violent crime charges can destroy your life: decades in prison, permanent criminal record, loss of civil rights, and devastating impact on your family. You cannot risk inadequate representation when your freedom is on the line.
Our Proven Defense Strategies
- Aggressive Investigation: We examine every piece of evidence, interview witnesses, and hire experts to challenge the prosecution's case
- Constitutional Challenges: We identify violations of your rights during investigation, arrest, or interrogation
- Self-Defense Claims: We build strong self-defense cases when you were protecting yourself or others
- Mental Health Defenses: We present evidence of mental health issues that may reduce charges or penalties
- Mitigation Evidence: We compile compelling evidence for sentencing that can result in reduced penalties
What Inadequate Representation Costs
- Public defenders are overworked and lack resources for thorough violent crime defense
- Inexperienced attorneys don't understand the complexities of COV law and mandatory sentencing
- "General practice" lawyers lack the trial experience necessary for serious violent crime cases
You get one chance at this.
Your choice of attorney will determine whether you spend years or decades in prison.
Understanding "Crimes of Violence" and Mandatory Penalties
Colorado has a special category called “Crimes of Violence” (COV) that carries drastically enhanced mandatory penalties. This is where violent crime charges become truly devastating.
What Makes a Crime a “Crime of Violence” (COV)
To qualify as a COV, you must be charged with one of the specific listed offenses AND either:
- Used a deadly weapon, OR
- Killed or seriously injured someone
Crimes That Can Qualify as COV:
- Any crime against an at-risk juvenile or at-risk adult
- Murder (any degree)
- First or second-degree assault
- Kidnapping
- Sexual assault
- Aggravated robbery
- First-degree arson
- First-degree burglary
- Escape (from custody)
- Criminal extortion
- First or second-degree unlawful termination of pregnancy
COV Enhanced Penalties
If your charges qualify as Crimes of Violence, you face dramatically increased mandatory sentences:
- Class 2 felonies: 16 to 48 years in prison
- Class 3 felonies: 10 to 32 years in prison
- Class 4 felonies: 5 to 16 years in prison
- Class 5 felonies: 2.5 to 8 years in prison
- Class 6 felonies: 1.5 to 4 years in prison
Critical Consequence: If convicted of multiple COV charges from the same incident, sentences must be served consecutively (one after another) rather than concurrently (at the same time). This can result in sentences spanning decades.
Fighting for Reduced Sentences and Lesser Penalties
Despite mandatory minimums, there are ways to fight for reduced sentences and better outcomes. This is where having a former prosecutor as your defense attorney becomes crucial.
Exceptional Circumstances Exception
Colorado law allows judges to grant lesser sentences in cases they consider “exceptional and involving unusual and extenuating circumstances.” This is a narrow exception, but an experienced attorney knows how to present compelling mitigation evidence.
Potential Mitigation Factors:
- Lack of prior criminal history
- Mental health issues or trauma
- Substance abuse problems requiring treatment
- Self-defense or defense of others
- Cooperation with law enforcement
- Evidence of rehabilitation efforts
Alternative Sentencing Options
Even with mandatory minimums, some alternatives may be available:
- Probation (in exceptional cases after serving minimum time)
- Community corrections programs
- Mental health or drug treatment courts
- Plea negotiations to lesser charges that don’t qualify as COV
Important: While sentence modifications are possible, they typically cannot take effect until after serving a minimum period (often 119 days). However, avoiding COV designation entirely through effective defense work is always the better strategy.
What to Expect When Charged with a Violent Crime
Understanding the process helps you prepare for what’s ahead and make informed decisions about your defense.
The Legal Process
Understanding the process helps you prepare for what’s ahead and make informed decisions about your defense.
Investigation and Arrest
Police and prosecutors thoroughly investigate violent crimes, often using multiple detectives, forensic evidence, and witness interviews.
Arraignment and Charges
You’ll be formally charged and enter a plea. This is where the specific charges and potential COV designation become clear.
Pre-Trial Motions and Discovery
We examine all evidence, challenge illegal searches or statements, and file motions to suppress evidence or dismiss charges.
Plea Negotiations or Trial
We either negotiate the best possible plea agreement or take your case to trial if that serves your interests better.
Why Consecutive Sentences Matter
For COV convictions from the same incident, sentences run consecutively rather than concurrently:
- Concurrent example: Two 10-year sentences = 10 years total
- Consecutive example: Two 10-year sentences = 20 years total
This makes avoiding COV designation or multiple convictions absolutely critical to your future.
Don't Let Them Take Your Freedom Without a Fight
Violent crime charges are the prosecution’s most serious cases, and they bring their full resources to bear against you. District attorneys’ offices assign their most experienced prosecutors to these cases, and they have investigators, forensic experts, and victim advocates all working to convict you.
You need an equally powerful advocate on your side. Someone who knows their strategies, understands their weaknesses, and has the trial experience to fight back effectively.
Time is critical. Evidence is being gathered, witnesses are being interviewed, and the prosecution’s case is being built while you’re reading this. Every day you wait gives them more ammunition to use against you.
Call a Former Prosecutor Ready to Fight for You 24/7
Get Your First Consultation FREE!
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