Vehicular Homicide

Vehicular Homicide cases in Littleton are handled by the Arapahoe County Combined Court, which sits in the 18th Judicial District. As a combined court, it hears both county-court and district-court matters.

For DUI-based vehicular homicide, a class 3 felony under C.R.S. 18-3-106, the mandatory parole period is three years under C.R.S. 18-1.3-401. For the reckless-driving version, a class 4 felony, mandatory parole is also three years. Some older materials list five years of mandatory parole for these offenses; that figure reflects an earlier sentencing scheme and is not current. Mandatory parole is served after the prison term and cannot be waived by the court or the defendant, though the parole board can discharge a person early once statutory conditions are met.

It depends on the theory charged. Under C.R.S. 18-3-106, vehicular homicide based on driving under the influence is a class 3 felony and a strict-liability offense, meaning the prosecution does not have to prove the driving caused the death through negligence. Vehicular homicide based on reckless driving is a class 4 felony. A class 3 felony carries a presumptive four to twelve years and three years of mandatory parole; a class 4 felony carries two to six years and three years of parole. The DUI-based version is treated as a serious violent offense at sentencing.

Adams County falls within the 17th Judicial District, and Vehicular Homicide cases there are heard in the Adams County Justice Center.

Right Law Group's guide explains: "Second-degree murder charges typically involve reckless killings or those committed without premeditation. There is a wide sentencing range – between 16 and 48 years in prison for adults. Criminally negligent homicide leading to death can be charged as manslaughter."

Vehicular Homicide cases connected to Adams County are heard in the Adams County Justice Center, part of the 17th Judicial District.

In Denver County, Vehicular Homicide charges are handled through the Denver County Court & District Court, part of the 2nd Judicial District. Misdemeanor-level matters are heard on the county-court side and felony-level matters on the district-court side of the same courthouse.

Vehicular Homicide charges in Adams County are prosecuted by the 17th Judicial District Attorney's Office, the elected District Attorney for the 17th Judicial District.