Criminal Defense Legal Blog

In Colorado, like most other states, being accused of a hit and run is a very serious issue.  If you have been charged with this type of crime in Colorado, you will need the help of an experienced Denver criminal defense lawyer.

When no injuries involved, first time offenders who are later convicted of a hit-and-run crime will need to pay for the damage they caused to the other vehicle. They will also need to pay fines which are assessed above and beyond what their insurance company will pay.  Many states, including Colorado, will asses points on the license of anyone convicted of this offense, which will undoubtedly add up to higher insurance premiums.

Where the accident has caused injury to another person, the penalties are more severe, resulting in more DMV points and possible drivers’ license revocation.  However, if the accident has caused one of the victims to die it moves from misdemeanor to felony status, which is far more serious.  The accused person will be asked to give a police statement and turn in their car for investigation. 

Anyone who is facing serious charges like those associated with hit-and-run will have a lot of questions about how to proceed.  This is where a Denver criminal defense lawyer comes in.  Not only will we answer all of your questions, you will have an experienced attorney defending your rights and investigating all the evidence surrounding your case.  An attorney may be able to reduce the penalties by reviewing the nature and extent of the damage caused by your accident. 

Consult with the experienced team criminal defense attorneys at Clawson & Clawson, LLP.

According to Colorado law and the Second Amendment, American citizens have the right to bear arms to protect their home, themselves and their property, but these rights are often curtailed by other laws that are designed to protect citizens and prevent violence.  If you are facing a felony weapons charge for possession of a weapon, a Denver Criminal Defense Attorney can help. 

Felony Weapons Charges in Colorado

Felony weapons charges often result from carrying a weapon without the proper permits or violating other weapons-related laws and a conviction could cost you dearly.  Whether your charges are related to “felony menacing” or possession of a dangerous weapon like a machine gun or bomb, or actually committing a crime with a weapon, a felony charge means a much harsher penalty if convicted.  Weapons-related felony charges may result in long incarceration or probation periods, mandatory sentences and many other serious consequences that may affect your future in the community and the workplace. 

Work with an Experienced Denver Criminal Defense Attorney

No matter what the circumstances surrounding your alleged violation may be, seeking legal representation should be the first thing you do.  By conducting a thorough investigation, a Denver criminal defense attorney can present evidence that counters the prosecution.  Look for a criminal defense attorney that is familiar with the Colorado criminal justice inside and out, and who has a demonstrated track record of successfully defending cases like yours. The criminal defense team at Clawson & Clawsson, LLP will apply their disciplined and aggressive approach to your case, with a goal of having your charges dropped, negotiating a plea deal or limiting penalties. 

As a Colorado Springs DUI Attorney, I have been representing citizens of Colorado in disputes with the laws of the state pertaining to drunk driving.  In most of these cases, my clients are guilty, but they are hoping to reduce their sentence or the DUI’s impact on their insurance or employment records.  Thanks to some minor loopholes with regard to evidence-gathering, I am usually successful in minimizing the long-term impact of a DUI charge.  However, it is important to note that my awareness of these opportunities in no way condones drunk driving, but I am a little cautious of a new bill that, if passed, will dramatically affect repeat offenders.

According to the new Colorado bill, offenders will dramatically increase the amount of jail time for repeat DUI offenders.  Rep. Cory Gardner (R-Yuma) and Rep. Clair Levy (D-Boulder) are proposing separate bills, each aimed to increase drunken driving penalties throughout the state.  The common thread between these bills seems to be a mandatory 10-day prison sentence for all second offenders, and Levy’s bill adds 2 years of supervised probation.  Any subsequent offenses would result in 60 days of jail time, and all DUI offenders would need to enroll in an alcohol and drug treatment program.  This is opposed to the current sentence of in-home detention. 

The Gardner bill requires second offenses to be filed as felonies, with a conviction landing the second time DUI offender in a prison run by the Colorado Department of Corrections, not the county jail.  If you’re wondering who is going to take on this financial burden, it will fall on the governments of each county, not the state.  Like most other Colorado lawyers, I have concerns about how this legislation might affect my clients.  If you are facing a DUI charge in state of Colorado, it is important to seek legal counsel.  A Colorado Springs DUI Attorney can help you understand your rights and pursue the right course of action in your defense. 

As a Denver criminal defense attorney, I run into a lot of people who are surprised at the seriousness of a criminal trespassing charge.  In many cases, defendants don’t expect the charges to result in prison time or fines, but the state takes this crime very seriously.

Thanks to the separation between Church and State, it won’t go over too well if you walk into a Colorado courtroom citing the Lord’s Prayer, and expecting that the plaintiffs will “forgive those who trespass against us."  In fact, being charged with criminal trespassing in Colorado can be very difficult to defend unless you work with an experienced attorney.   If you have been charged with trespassing, you should hire a Denver criminal defense lawyer immediately. 

Have you been accused of a sex crime in Colorado?  In Colorado, as in other states, sex crimes are taken very seriously.  If you’ve been charged with a sex crime in Colorado, you don’t have the advantage of peacefully negotiating an out-of-court settlement; you need to seek the counsel of a Colorado Springs sex crimes attorney.

A qualified Colorado personal injury attorney will uncover evidence, interview potential witnesses, and prepare you for the stress of defending a sex crimes charge.  Because the consequences to sex crimes victims can last a lifetime, or even result in serious injury or death, the public has a strong aversion to sex offenders.  This can make a charge like this very difficult to defend properly, even if you are innocent.

Colorado criminal lawyers are an important part of the state’s legal system. In addition to offering legal assistance to their clients, they also serve as effective counselors to help their clients understand how Colorado criminal law is applied, and the best course of action for their situation.  Because the choice of a Colorado criminal defense lawyer can make the difference between winning and losing your case, it is vitally important to choose the right lawyer.

It would seem that the concept of “innocent until proven guilty” would prevail in a criminal defense case, but unfortunately many Colorado criminal defendants find it to be the other way around.  Sometimes, just because someone called the police, even well intentioned officers adopt arrest procedures that shift the burden of proof to the accused.  This is particularly true in cases of domestic violence in Colorado.

Whether you are facing charges for minor shoplifting or a complex white-collar crime, the larger the amount of money involved, the more serious your case will be.  If your offense has occurred in Colorado, a Denver criminal defense lawyer can present you with the best options for your case. 

Ever since the polygraph, or lie detector, test became popular in the first half of the 20th century, questions have been raised about their accuracy and admissibility in court.  Essentially, the polygraph test measures physiological responses, such as blood pressure, pulse, skin conductivity and temperature, while a subject undergoes a series of questions.  The theory behind this test is that all of these indicators would deviate from their “normal” levels when a person is lying.