If you are under investigation for alleged criminal activity or have already been arrested or charged, you should contact a Lakewood criminal lawyer as soon as possible. The sooner you get in contact with a lawyer, the better.
Justie and Jenn at Colorado Lawyer Team can take measures to protect your constitutional rights and help you avoid incriminating yourself. Further, an attorney will know what actions need to be taken at each stage of the criminal justice process to best defend you.
Providing Legal Defense Against Various Criminal Charges
Criminal attorneys handle all types of cases in Lakewood. They know the state criminal code and can provide a strategic legal defense to the specific charges against a person. Examples of types of offenses a criminal lawyer could defend against include:
- Crimes against the person, such as homicide, assault, or stalking
- Crimes against property, including arson, robbery, theft, and trespassing
- Crimes involving fraud, such as forgery, impersonation, and identity theft
- Drug offenses, including unlawful possession, distribution, or manufacturing
- Firearms offenses, such as carrying a concealed handgun without a permit
- Moral offenses, such as public indecency, prostitution, soliciting, and pandering
- Domestic violence offenses
Attorneys who provide criminal defense also represent clients charged with inchoate offenses, which are incomplete crimes. In other words, plans were made to commit a specific crime, but the offense was never carried out. Examples of inchoate offenses include attempt, conspiracy, and solicitation.
Penalties for Criminal Convictions in Lakewood
Convictions for misdemeanor crimes could result in confinement for up to 18 months and fines as high as $5,000, depending on the misdemeanor class of the offense. Prostitution is a class 3 misdemeanor, which is punishable by fines up to $750 and a jail term of up to six months. The theft of property with a value between $750 and $2,000 is a class 1 misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to 18 months and a fine between $500 and $5,000.
The penalties for felony criminal convictions in Lakewood are more severe. Felony offenses are separated into six classes with sanctions ranging from a 12-month prison sentence at a minimum to a sentence of life in prison. For certain criminal convictions, a sentence of death could be imposed.
As an example, menacing by the use of a deadly weapon is a class 5 felony that can be penalized by a prison term of one to three years, as well as a fine between $1,000 and $100,000. Certain racketeering offenses, such as extortion or money laundering, are class 2 felonies and are punishable by imprisonment for eight to 24 years and fines between $5,000 and $1,000,000. A lawyer who provides criminal defense in Lakewood could explain what punishments are handed down for specific felony crimes.
Contact a Lakewood Criminal Attorney
Speak with a Lakewood criminal lawyer to discuss your next steps if you have been arrested or charged with any offense, whether it is a misdemeanor or felony. A lawyer will look out for your best interests and work to protect you against violations of your due process rights. It is particularly critical that you do not make any statements without a lawyer present, or you could unintentionally incriminate yourself.
Working with a defense attorney means there is someone on your side standing with you in the face of criminal charges. Contact Justie and Jenn today for help with your case.
