People of all walks of life are accused of all kinds of crimes every day in Colorado. The framers of the Constitution knew that it is much easier to accuse someone of a crime than it is to defend against such an accusation, so they made sure to give the accused as many protections as they could. Foremost amongst those protections is the right to have an attorney at all stages of a criminal case. Exercising that right is not an admission of guilt, it is not something to be ashamed of, and it should not be so expensive that a person of average means cannot afford to do so.

At Driskell, Fitz-Gerald & Ray, LLC, we have attorneys who specialize in criminal defense law. We can help you if your goal is to obtain the best possible plea bargain, or to fight your case at a trial to a judge or jury.

Traffic Offenses – Driving in Colorado is more than a necessity; it is a way of life. Most drivers in Colorado at some point have found themselves pulled over for some reason or another. And for most people the experience with law enforcement is as frightening as it is mysterious. It is tempting to simply plead guilty, or send in your ticket with payment and hope that you are being treated fairly. But there are millions of traffic tickets issued each year in Colorado, and most of those result in a plea bargain between the District Attorney and the accused or his or her defense attorney. If you want to get the best possible deal, or if you want to contest the charge you receive, you need to have an experienced lawyer on your side who can tell you if the deal you are being offered is a deal at all, or if you should make the State prove its case at a trial.

Misdemeanors – Misdemeanors in Colorado run the gamut from anything from Assault to Marijuana Possession, to Child Abuse to Driving Under the Influence (DUI/DWAI). Though they do not carry the possibility of prison time, as do felonies, they do carry the possibility of fines, probation or even a sentence to the county jail. While they are less serious than felonies, many of these charges are very serious and can impact a person’s ability to get a driver’s license, a student loan or even to get a job. Many misdemeanors can also be called “domestic violence” offenses, and a guilty plea to one of these can carry even more restrictions on your freedom than some felonies. A criminal defense lawyer can prove indispensible at trial, or in striking a plea bargain.

Felonies – Felonies are the most serious of the crimes under Colorado law. Typically, these charges include Possession of a Schedule I or II drug, Possession with Intent to Distribute, Fraud, 2nd Degree Assault or more serious crimes. Many of these charges are differentiated from misdemeanors by a simple matter of quantity, intent, or simply by the charging officer. These crimes carry the possibility of fines, probation or even prison time. Felonies can also bring the stigma to a person of being labeled a “felon,” which can make it very difficult to find a job, a place to live and live a productive life.  No one accused of a felony should try to handle their case without an experienced trial attorney in their corner.

Domestic Violence – Domestic Violence offenses in Colorado can be either misdemeanors or felonies, and if the result in a conviction or guilty plea, they can require a defendant to undergo months of classes, treatment and therapy in addition to the possibility of fines, probation and incarceration. The legislature has classified crimes that happen between two people in an “intimate relationship” to be classified as “domestic violence,” regardless of whether any physical violence was actually perpetrated. This can be a husband and wife, a boyfriend and girlfriend or even just a dating couple. A person can be charged with a domestic violence offense for something as simple as calling at the wrong time or even just swearing at someone. When charged with a domestic violence offense, many people will find themselves arrested, taken to jail, and then brought before a judge before they have had any time to think about the consequences of their actions or of pleading guilty to such an offense. Often domestic violence courts are called “Fast Track” courts, and are designed to get people to plead guilty as quickly as possible. Those accused of these kinds offenses should be careful not to confuse repairing their relationship with admitting to a serious criminal offense, and should always ask to talk to an attorney before they admit to anything.