Blog: Criminal Defense

In Colorado, “general intent crimes” require only that the defendant intended to commit a prohibited act; in contrast, “specific intent crimes” also require that the defendant intended to produce a prohibited result. All Colorado crimes can be classified as either a general intent or a specific intent crime. The legal term for intent is “mens …

In a Colorado jury trial, prior criminal convictions are generally admissible, but only if they attack your credibility. This is true if you are in federal court or state court. It is also true if you are in a civil case or a criminal one. Prior felony convictions for crimes involving dishonesty are especially damning. …

A PR bond is when a person who has been arrested in Colorado gets released on his or her “own recognizance” without having to pay any money. Different types of bonds in Colorado After a person (the “defendant”) gets arrested on suspicion of a crime, the police will book him or her at the station …

It depends. Speeding (CRS 42-4-1101) less than 25 miles per hour over the speed limit is usually just a class A traffic infraction in Colorado, which carries no jail. Instead, the driver faces penalties of: fines, surcharges, and Colorado DMV points on the defendant’s driver’s license However, speeding 25 miles per hour or more than the …

Colorado’s criminal impersonation laws (C.R.S. 18-5-113) by knowingly assuming a false identity while doing either of the following five things: signing a recordable legal document and with intent to pass it off as true; posting bail for someone; marrying (or pretending to marry) another person who is ignorant of the false impersonation; doing anything may …

Yes, violation of parole in Colorado is a grounds for extradition to Colorado under CRS 16-19-104. Extradition into Colorado is the legal procedure for returning a “fugitive from justice” to Colorado in order for him/her to face prosecution or sentencing for a criminal offense he/she allegedly committed there. Other than violating parole, grounds for extradition …

The “exclusionary rule” allows judges in criminal cases to disregard (“exclude”) evidence that has been illegally obtained by police. Illegal police searches in Colorado Police are required to adhere to the Fourth Amendment‘s prohibition against unreasonable searches and seizures when conducting searches. In general, police are required to secure a Colorado search warrant prior to …

Colorado sex offender registry laws usually permit convicted sex offenders from other states to travel to Colorado. However, visitors are considered temporary residents and must therefore register in Colorado if they either: stay for more than 14 days, or stay for more than 30 days in a calendar year Note that visitors must comply with …