If you or someone you love has been charged with a felony in Castle Rock or Douglas County, you need legal help from attorneys who truly understand this complex area of criminal law.
Felony convictions bring severe consequences – years behind bars, crippling fines, and a permanent black mark on your record that destroys job prospects and reputation. The stakes couldn’t be higher.
But here’s the good news: the team at Right Law Group has the experience to stand by your side and strategically fight for the best possible outcome in your case. Our Castle Rock felony defense lawyers have represented hundreds of clients facing felony allegations in Colorado. Together, we can navigate this challenging time and achieve results that protect your future.
Felonies in our state fall into six classes, numbered 1 through 6. Class 1 contains the most serious felonies, while Class 6 is the least severe. Why does the class matter? It determines potential sentencing if convicted. For example, a Class 2 felony could mean 8-24 years behind bars, whereas a Class 6 felony may only involve 12-18 months imprisonment.
Here’s a breakdown of the presumptive sentencing range of six felony classes in Colorado, along with sentencing ranges and fines as defined in the Colorado Revised Statutes 18-1.3-401:
Felony Class | Minimum Sentence | Maximum Sentence | Maximum Fine |
---|---|---|---|
Class 1 | Life in prison | Life in Prison | $1,000,000 |
Class 2 | 8 years | 24 years | $1,000,000 |
Class 3 | 4 years | 12 years | $750,000 |
Class 4 | 2 years | 6 years | $500,000 |
Class 5 | 1 year | 3 years | $100,000 |
Class 6 | 1 year | 18 months | $100,000 |
To give you an idea, here are some common charges for each class:
Unfortunately, it’s not just potential jail time you need to worry about. Felony convictions also bring many additional collateral consequences that can negatively impact your life for years to come.
Some examples:
Our goal is to keep these far-reaching collateral consequences out of your future.
Once you’re charged with a felony, it sets off a multi-step criminal justice process – including a felony arraignment, preliminary hearing, and various pre-trial motions we can file:
As your defense attorneys, we leverage every phase of this process to advocate for you and work to mitigate or even dismiss the charges.
In your case, we’ll craft a defense strategy tailored to the specific charges you’re facing. We don’t use cookie-cutter approaches – that’s not in your best interest.
Instead, we’ll determine the most effective ways to counter the allegations, such as:
We’ve successfully achieved dismissals of charges like theft, domestic violence, and drug crimes by piecing together air-tight defense strategies on behalf of our clients.
There are big advantages to partnering with a firm like ours that focuses solely on criminal defense in the Castle Rock area. First, we have intimate familiarity with the local courts, judges, and district attorneys. We know their tendencies and can advise how they might respond.
Additionally, we’ve built strong relationships with court staff over the years practicing in the area – that insider knowledge benefits our clients. And having an office close to the courthouse provides convenience if you need us quickly.
At Right Law Group, we have a passion for protecting our clients’ futures. We will go above and beyond by thoroughly investigating your case, aggressively defending your rights in court, and remaining by your side from arrest to acquittal.
We devote ample time and resources toward achieving the best possible outcome – that’s why we’ve successfully defended thousands of clients against criminal allegations over the years. If you or someone you care about is charged with a felony in Castle Rock, turn to us for experienced, dedicated representation.
If you’re under investigation or have felony charges in Castle Rock, please take advantage of a complimentary case evaluation.
Here’s what we’ll cover:
The bottom line? You don’t have to endure this alone. As an experienced Castle Rock felony defense lawyer, We’re here to support you and be your ally during this difficult time. Call our office to schedule your free consultation today. We’re ready to help.
Frequently Asked Questions
A felony arraignment happens within a few weeks of being charged. At this hearing, you will appear before a judge and enter a formal plea of guilty, not guilty, or no contest. This starts the timeline for filing pre-trial motions. An attorney can advise you on the smartest plea to enter at your arraignment.
Beyond potential jail time, felony convictions also carry consequences like loss of civil rights, barriers to employment and housing, professional license suspension, deportation issues, and more. These collateral consequences can negatively impact your life for years.
Common felonies in Colorado include theft, burglary, robbery, assault, vehicular homicide, arson, kidnapping, domestic violence, sex crimes, drug offenses, fraud, and more. The details of the crime dictate the felony class level.
Most felony criminal cases are resolved before trial through plea agreements or dismissals. However, if no plea deal is reached and you wish to fight the charges, then your case will proceed to a trial before a judge or jury. An experienced criminal defense lawyer can advise if going to trial is the right strategic choice based on the evidence and potential sentencing exposure. Factors like your prior record and the severity of charges impact the likelihood of a case going to trial versus reaching a settlement. Your attorney will counsel you on the pros and cons of going to trial versus accepting a plea offer.