Miller & Steiert: Colorado Criminal Defense Lawyers
If you’ve recently been charged with a felony or misdemeanor in Colorado, you might be wondering what to expect next. A felony is the most serious type of criminal charge you can face, and it’s important not to underestimate the potential consequences a felony conviction can have on your future. Below, learn more about how Colorado classifies its crimes and how a criminal attorney can help defend you against charges.
Ask a criminal defense lawyer: How are felonies and misdemeanors classified in Colorado?
A felony is any crime that is punishable by time in prison—rather than jail. Felonies can be charged under either federal or state law, depending on the circumstances of the alleged crime.
In some cases, the specific circumstances of the crime can also be enough to bump a misdemeanor up to a felony. For example, the theft of an item valued under $2,000 is generally a misdemeanor under Colorado law; but if someone commits this theft while armed, they could be subject to a felony charge.
There are six different classes of felonies in Colorado, and the sentence for each class varies.
- Class 6 felonies are punishable by 12 to 18 months in prison and a fine of up to $100,000.
- Class 5 felonies are punishable by 1 to 3 years in prison and a fine of up to $100,000.
- Class 4 felonies are punishable by 2 to 6 years in prison and a fine of up to $500,000.
- Class 3 felonies are punishable by 4 to 12 years in prison and a fine of up to $750,000.
- Class 2 felonies are punishable by 8 to 24 years in prison and a fine of up to $1,000,000.
- Class 1 felonies are the most serious and can be punishable by life imprisonment or death.
Misdemeanors are less harshly punished than felonies but are still crimes that must be taken seriously.
- Class 3 misdemeanors are the least severe of the three classes and are punishable by up to six months in jail, a fine of up to $750, or both.
- Class 2 misdemeanors are punishable by up to 12 months in jail, a fine of up to $1,000, or both.
- Class 1 misdemeanors are punishable by up to 18 months in jail, a fine of up to $5,000, or both.
Ask a criminal defense lawyer: What consequences could you face if convicted?
If you’re convicted of a felony, under federal law, you can no longer possess a firearm. Having your felony expunged (under Colorado law) can restore this right, but the expungement process is often a long one and isn’t available for all types of crimes. Your criminal defense lawyer can explain Colorado’s expungement laws and work with you to determine whether this might be an option if you ultimately do plead guilty.
Some other potential consequences of a felony conviction can include:
- Loss of your right to vote while you’re serving your sentence
- Loss of your right to serve on a jury
- Ineligibility for certain types of government assistance
- Having more difficulty finding a job
Depending on the circumstances of your conviction, you could also face restrictions on where you can live or work.
“Extraordinary risk crimes” and how a criminal lawyer can help
Under Colorado law, an extraordinary risk crime has a wider range of potential penalties. These crimes include those that allege aggravated robbery, child abuse, stalking, or the sale or distribution of materials intended to manufacture controlled substances. Prosecutors have some discretion to decide whether to charge a particular offense as an extraordinary risk crime, which makes it even more important to have an experienced Colorado criminal defense attorney on your side if you’re facing criminal charges. Your criminal attorney can quickly begin gathering evidence to defend against an extraordinary risk charge and may even be able to get this charge dropped.
A criminal lawyer can help you build your defense
Being charged with a crime in Colorado can put your entire future at stake. You could find yourself facing prison or hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines. And if you’re convicted of a felony, it could become significantly more difficult to find a job or even find a place to live. It’s important to take decisive action to protect and preserve your legal rights.
Some people may assume that if the criminal charges against them are false, they don’t need any help from a criminal defense attorney. But this is far from the truth, and failing to have a criminal lawyer help rebut any false charges could result in a conviction.
When your freedom is at stake, hiring an experienced criminal defense attorney is the first step you should take. Defending against criminal charges can be quite complicated, and you want to hire a criminal defense attorney who has the experience and the good judgment to ensure that the defense you present is as strong as possible.
