Colorado Legal Defense Group – Defending Your Rights

We at Colorado Legal Defense Group are a team of dedicated aggressive criminal defense lawyers who defend people accused of crimes throughout the state – including Denver, Colorado Springs, Aurora, Fort Collins, Lakewood, Thornton, Arvada, Westminster, Centennial and Boulder.

Our Colorado criminal defense attorneys handle all types of criminal cases – from DUI, DWAI and domestic violence to drug crimes involving methamphetamine and prescription drugs, gun crimes and weapons charges, and Colorado murder and manslaughter charges.

Playlist: Colorado Legal Defense Group Attorneys – Defending Your Rights

Decades of Denver criminal defense experience have taught us how cops and district attorneys put together cases. While some Denver criminal defense lawyers take a wait-and-see approach, we know there’s no time to waste. The best Colorado criminal defense lawyers know that the most critical window is often right after an arrest or when a warrant is issued.

After all—the police and prosecutors aren’t waiting to build a case against you. Why give them a head start? Cases aren’t just won in the courtroom. Knowing who to talk to and who has the discretion to negotiate are often just as important as making the best impression on the jury. Our licensed and certified Colorado defense lawyers bring more than 50 years of collective experience successfully navigating the Colorado criminal justice system and filing motions to suppress evidence obtained through illegal searches.

Proactive teamwork

Studies show that a defendant with a Colorado defense lawyer at first appearance is:

• 2 ½ times more likely to be released on his or her own recognizance;
• 4 ½ times more likely to have the amount of bail or bond significantly reduced; and
• Often likely to serve less time in jail.1

Together with our private criminal investigators and experts, our Colorado criminal defense lawyers get to work immediately to protect your rights and advise you on the best course of action. We’ll locate and interview witnesses, obtain surveillance tapes and other evidence, and do all the necessary background research into the facts of your case while preparing to cross-examine prosecution witnesses. Surprise twists work well on TV, but in real life, it pays to be prepared.

Personalized Denver Criminal Defense Lawyers Near You

Sometimes it’s possible to stop criminal charges from ever being filed. At other times, savvy and early negotiating can get the Colorado district attorney to reconsider the charges. Our experienced Denver criminal defense attorneys near you will present your story and evidence in the best possible light and challenge evidence that was improperly obtained.

When the prosecutors see the whole picture – and not just what the cops or the alleged victim have to say – they may decide to file lesser charges. Or they might not file charges at all. But we are also not afraid to take cases to a jury trial. In short, our affordable and professional Denver criminal defense lawyers near you fight your case and do whatever is best for you.

Close personal contact with your Denver Criminal Attorney

Defending a Colorado DUI / DWAI or criminal case is difficult enough. The last thing you need is the added stress of not being able to reach your lawyer about Denver criminal matters. We pride ourselves on the accessibility of both our criminal defense lawyers and our skilled support staff who provide 24/7 emergency availability.

To give you emotional support as well as top criminal representation, we observe two policies:

• Every client’s phone call, email or text is returned the same day; and
• Every client gets the cell phone number of his/her attorney and the lawyer’s assistant for confidential and discreet communication.

Knowledge of the Local Courts

Every county and every courthouse has its own way of doing things. The criminal law court process in Denver County can differ quite a bit from the criminal court process in Weld County, Jefferson County, Adams County, or Arapahoe County. Not to mention that there is a world of difference between the adult courts and the Colorado juvenile justice system where juvenile crimes require specialized handling.

Our Colorado defense lawyers near you understand the subtle differences between negotiating with the 4th Judicial District Attorney for El Paso and Teller Counties and the District Attorney for Larimer or Douglas County. No two D.A.’s offices or courthouses are alike any more than any other case is just like yours. We care enough to know the difference.

Our Practice Areas

Our Colorado criminal defense lawyers near you defend clients against ALL types of criminal charges. Some of our practice areas include:

Colorado menacing and assault

Colorado felony assault involves intentionally, knowingly or recklessly causing bodily injury to another person under assault laws in Colorado. It can be first-degree assault, second-degree assault or third-degree assault, depending on the seriousness of the injury, whether a weapon was used, and whether the victim is in a special class (such as being elderly or disabled).

“Menacing” occurs when you threaten someone with assault and place that person in fear of imminent serious bodily injury. Menacing is typically a misdemeanor, except when a deadly weapon is used in making the threat.

Colorado domestic violence

Here in Colorado, domestic violence is not a separate crime. It is a sentencing enhancement that can add as many as several years in prison to your sentence, depending on whether you have a history of domestic violence.

The domestic violence enhancement can be charged in conjunction with ANY other crime if the victim is a current or former intimate partner. Crimes to which it frequently applies include spousal abuse, child abuse (when abusing the child is done to control the partner), stalking, assault, or menacing.

Perhaps most importantly, if you are suspected of domestic violence you will be subjected to a mandatory protective order before you are even tried, and even if the alleged victim does not want to press charges.

The domestic violence restraining order will prohibit you from harassing, molesting, intimidating, retaliating against, or tampering with any witness or the alleged victim. It will also severely restrict your rights including your voting rights and housing options. You will not be able to have any contact with the alleged victim, even if he or she is willing or initiates the contact. If children were present at the time of the alleged offense, the no contact order may also be extended to the children which can impact child custody arrangements.

If you are subject to a protective order, you will not even be permitted to consume alcohol. Violation of a Colorado protective order – even by accident – can land you in jail. As a consequence, it is in your interest to retain the best defense attorneys as possible as soon as there is any suspicion of domestic violence.

Colorado DUI, DWAI and driving crimes

Our Denver drunk driving lawyers defend all types of vehicle offenses, from driving without a valid Colorado driver’s license to vehicular homicide. We also defend license revocation proceedings in front of the DMV and challenge field sobriety test and breathalyzer results.

The Colorado DMV estimates that the cost of a first-time DUI conviction exceeds $10,000. In addition, drunk and drugged driving carries collateral consequences far beyond fines, lawyer fees and court costs including immigration consequences for non-citizens and professional license impact for licensed professionals.

Depending on your blood alcohol concentration and history, consequences of a drunk driving conviction can include increased insurance costs, mandatory drug and/or alcohol treatment and counseling, loss of your driver’s license, and/or installation of an ignition interlock device for several years as well as a permanent criminal record that appears on background checks.

Colorado drug crimes

Our Colorado drug lawyers defend against possession, sales and distribution charges, from misdemeanor violations of marijuana laws to felony drug trafficking in narcotics such as heroin and cocaine, and minor in possession cases.

Consequences of Denver drug criminal offenses can include not only time in prison or jail, but mandatory drug testing and counseling, hefty fines, and the possible loss of future employment as well as student loan eligibility and travel restrictions. However, with a vigorous defense, we can often get narcotics charges dismissed — or negotiate a

Meet our Colorado Criminal Defense Lawyers

Our home office in Denver is headed up by highly-rated criminal defense lawyer Michael Becker. Mr. Becker is a member of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and is the only attorney with a perfect 100 score on lawyer.com. He also has the distinction of being a National Advocacy for DUI Defense “Nationally Ranked Superior DUI Attorney”.

Attorney Mark Savoy is a former prosecutor with vast legal experience, so he knows firsthand how to one-up the D.A. and fight for reduced charges and case dismissals in all types of cases, from DUI charges to white-collar crimes.

Colorado Legal Defense Group’s Chloe Gleichman has proven herself to be a charismatic negotiator in and out of the courtroom. No matter your background, you can count on criminal attorney Chloe Gleichman to confront the system and fight for you from the day your case lands on her desk.

Attorney Megan Majewski is especially skilled in complex felony cases and appellate cases.

Colorado criminal defense attorney Ahad Khilji spent his entire career as a lawyer fighting to get charges lessened or dismissed completely.

Colorado criminal defense lawyer Joseph Santaularia is an excellent courtroom litigator, though he can usually resolve cases without a trial.

Colorado criminal defense attorney Justin Carpenter excels at negotiating favorable plea deals so clients can avoid the time and expense of trials.

Colorado Legal Defense Group attorney Michelle Wolf has devoted her entire legal career to criminal defense since graduating from law school in 2012.

Colorado criminal defense lawyer Chloe Alder is also experienced in personal injury law and animal law.

Colorado criminal defense lawyer Leslie Goldstein is especially adept at fighting DUI charges, including felony fourth offense DUI charges.

Colorado criminal defense attorney Jessica Briscoe regularly obtains deferred sentences for her clients solely based on her unique way of presenting mitigation to prosecutors.

Colorado Legal Defense Group attorney Lori McCardle excels in misdemeanor and felony criminal appellate work.

Operations manager Danielle Hebert, paralegals Diane Barrera (se habla español) and Justin Manter, and legal assistants Sharice Konate and Juana Rocha help provide our attorneys with legendary customer service while keeping the office running smoothly. Our private investigator Reegan O’Neill gives our litigation team a vital edge.

Contact an Experienced Denver Criminal Defense Firm for a free consultation

We start every case the same way: by listening. The police and the accusers are going to have their stories. We’ll be presenting yours. So we want to start by hearing and understanding your side of it and your legal issues. Then, we will craft a defense in pursuit of the best possible outcome for the state of Colorado. Call us or use the contact form on this page for a free initial consultation and legal advice to see if we’re the right defense lawyers for you.

Fighting an arrest can be a frightening experience. But you don’t have to go it alone.

If your case is in California, please contact our California criminal defense lawyers for help.

If your case is in Nevada, please contact our Las Vegas criminal defense lawyers for help.

Our Denver area law office is located at: