You agreed to meet someone you’d been chatting with online. The messages seemed friendly. You’ve been lonely since your recent divorce, and you’re excited at the prospect of meeting someone new. Days later, however, Loveland police officers show up at your door with a warrant, saying the person you spoke to was underage. Your phone was seized, you were handcuffed in front of your neighbors, and now you’re being accused of a sex offense that could take away your freedom and shadow every part of your future.
In Loveland, these cases are prosecuted aggressively, and the law allows for severe penalties if you’re convicted. You could be looking at prison time, steep fines, and registration as a sex offender. This is why it’s so important to get legal representation right away. A Loveland sex crimes defense lawyer from Colorado Lawyer Team can be at your side in an instant, fighting to prevent an honest mistake from changing the course of your life.
Why Hire Us for Your Sex Crimes Defense in Loveland?
Facing a sex crime allegation in Loveland can put your future at risk. You need a defense team that responds quickly to new developments, reviews every piece of evidence against you, and has the skill, experience, and determination to challenge the state’s case. At Colorado Lawyer Team, we work to protect your rights from the first conversation and prepare for the courtroom from day one.
- You Talk with Your Attorney Directly: You’ll work directly with the Loveland sex crimes defense lawyer responsible for building and presenting your defense. You won’t be left waiting or passed to an assistant. This means your account of events is heard, documented, and reflected in every decision made. For one such client, we have actually set up a standing weekly call with the attorney since access to electronics makes communication difficult.
- We Are Available When You Need Us: Our team answers calls, texts, and emails outside standard office hours so you can reach us if something urgent happens. This includes phones being answered evenings and weekends. We believe you should have direct access to your defense team when questions or concerns arise.
- We Use Prosecutorial Insight to Your Advantage: Justie Nicol, our founder, served as a Deputy District Attorney and with the ACLU before establishing the firm. This experience gives us insight into how prosecutors assemble their arguments and where those arguments may be weak. We also understand the prison system in this country better than most, having sued private prison providers. We use that knowledge to challenge the evidence and question the reliability of the state’s case while also keeping you informed whether you’re in custody or not.
- We Have Access to Experts: In almost all of our sex cases, we work closely with investigators, social workers, forensic cell phone examiners, or mitigation specialists to strengthen your defense. This can help uncover evidence that supports your version of events and identify issues in the prosecution’s narrative. Some of the experts are nationally renowned and would even testify at trial, should your case proceed to trial.
- We Offer Flexible Fee Options: We provide alternate payment structures, including flat fees and unbundled legal services. This allows you to choose a payment plan that fits your budget while still receiving the legal representation you deserve. We offer outside lending options through Affirm and Eaze Consulting, but we also try to keep the initial payment for your case down while allowing you to make recurring payments as the case progresses through the court system.
- We Operate as a Fully Digital Law Firm: By using secure, paperless systems, we can store and access your case materials quickly from anywhere. This allows our criminal defense attorneys to review evidence, file documents, and communicate with you efficiently by phone, video, or email. If you aren’t able to access electronics, we will provide paper copies of the discovery whenever possible and can also sit down to watch the videos with you in a controlled environment. Be aware that some cases do require us to limit the distribution of sexually exploitative materials, and we can help to make sure your defense team abides by all required protective orders.
An Overview of Sex Offense Laws in Loveland
Sex crime charges in Loveland are prosecuted under Colorado’s criminal code on unlawful sexual behavior. Each offense has its own legal definition, required elements for conviction, and possible penalties. Knowing how the law defines your criminal charges is the first step in preparing your defense.
Common offenses that can lead to arrest and prosecution in Loveland include:
- Indecent Exposure: This offense occurs when someone exposes intimate parts to another person in a way that is meant to alarm or offend. The penalties can increase if the act is done for sexual gratification or in front of a minor.
- Prostitution: A person may be charged with prostitution if they offer or agree to engage in sexual activity in exchange for money or another form of payment.
- Sexual Assault: Sexual assault involves sexual penetration without consent. This can include situations where force or threats are used, the alleged victim is intoxicated, or the person is unable to give consent.
- Statutory Rape: Statutory rape occurs when someone engages in sexual activity with a person who is under the legal age of consent in Colorado. This applies even if the younger person appears to agree to the contact and the contact was consensual.
- Child Pornography: A person can be charged with child pornography if they possess, produce, or distribute sexual images or videos that depict a minor. Even digital files stored on a personal device can lead to prosecution.
- Internet Sexual Exploitation of a Child: This offense involves attempting to engage a minor in sexually explicit activity during an online exchange. It can include sending or requesting sexual images or asking the child to expose themselves on a video call.
- Internet Luring of a Child: This offense occurs when an adult uses the internet, phone, or another electronic device to describe sexual conduct to someone under 15 and then attempts to arrange a meeting. The penalties are more severe if the adult is at least four years older than the child.
- Human Sex Trafficking: Human sex trafficking charges apply when someone recruits, transports, or harbors another person for commercial sex acts. This crime often involves threats, coercion, or taking advantage of someone’s vulnerability.
In most cases, a criminal conviction may require you to register as a sex offender. This means you must give law enforcement a verifiable address and other personal information at regular intervals. If you fail to register or update your information, you can be charged with an additional offense that carries its own penalties. A Loveland sex crimes defense lawyer can explain the registration requirements in your case and help you comply if it becomes part of your sentence.
Loveland Penalties for Sex Offenses
The Colorado Revised Statutes set out the penalties for each sex offense, but the sentence you actually face will depend on what you’ve been charged with, any aggravating factors, and your prior criminal record. That said, most sex crimes involve prison time, large fines, and mandatory sex offender registration upon conviction.
For example, sexual assault can be charged as a class 2, 3, or 4 felony. The penalties increase with the severity of the felony charges:
- Class 4 felony: Two to six years in prison.
- Class 3 felony: Four to twelve years in prison.
- Class 2 felony: Eight to twenty-four years in prison.
If the case is classified as a crime of violence or an extraordinary risk crime, the court can impose an even longer sentence.
Many of the sex offenses outlined here are what we call “indeterminate” offenses, too, which means the judge sets a minimum prison term, but the maximum is life. A person must serve at least the minimum before being eligible for parole, but release from custody and release from community supervision are not guaranteed. This means that even after release from prison, lifetime parole or probation is possible (along with lifetime registration as a sex offender). Aggravating factors, such as a position of trust or a pattern of abuse, can lead to enhanced sentencing under Colorado’s indeterminate sentencing laws.
Some offenses, such as the promotion of pornography or other obscene materials, may be charged as misdemeanors. Once again, the penalties depend on the classification:
- Class 2 misdemeanor charges: Up to 120 days in jail and possible fines.
- Class 1 misdemeanor charges: Six to eighteen months in jail and higher fines.
In addition to the sentence imposed by the court, you may have to complete sex offender treatment, submit to supervision after release, and follow strict parole conditions. These requirements can last years and limit your freedom long after you serve your time. With so much at stake, you should speak to a Loveland criminal defense lawyer before making any statement to law enforcement.
Building a Strong Defense Against Sex Crime Charges
Sex crime cases can involve evidence such as DNA reports, medical examinations, phone records, internet history, and digital forensic data from devices. They may also include conflicting accounts between the accused, the accuser, and any witnesses. In addition, Colorado’s laws on unlawful sexual behavior have strict definitions for elements like consent, age of consent, and position of trust, which prosecutors can use to file charges even in situations that may involve misunderstandings or a lack of intent.
Possible defense strategies in these cases include:
- Showing that the accusation was based on mistaken identity.
- Presenting evidence that consent was given in cases where the law allows this defense.
- Demonstrating that law enforcement violated your constitutional rights during searches, seizures, or interrogations.
- Questioning the reliability of witnesses, including potential bias or inconsistent statements.
- Challenging the accuracy or authenticity of digital evidence such as text messages, chat logs, or images.
A criminal defense lawyer can review the evidence, interview witnesses, and bring in investigators or forensic specialists when necessary. The goal is to highlight weaknesses in the prosecution’s case and present the strongest argument possible for your defense. The sooner you get legal advice and representation, the better prepared your defense will be.
The Role of a Loveland Sex Crimes Defense Lawyer
A sex crimes defense lawyer manages every stage of your case. When you retain legal counsel to help you fight these charges, they can:
- Advise you during police questioning so you avoid making statements that could be misinterpreted or used against you.
- Review the charges and explain exactly what the prosecution must prove to secure a conviction.
- File motions to exclude evidence obtained through illegal searches or improper interrogations.
- Analyze forensic and digital evidence for errors, missing context, or weak links in the chain of custody.
- Get witness statements, gather supporting statements, and prepare them for testimony.
- Negotiate with prosecutors to seek reduced charges or lesser penalties when a favorable resolution is possible.
- Represent you in hearings, trial, and, if needed, appeals or post-conviction proceedings.
Their goal is to challenge the state’s case and achieve the best result possible given the circumstances. You can trust your sex crimes defense attorney at Colorado Lawyer Team to treat your situation with the diligence and care it deserves.
What to Do If You’re Accused of a Sex Crime in Loveland
In the first hours and days after an accusation, police may try to interview you, collect evidence from your home or devices, and speak to potential witnesses. If you respond without legal guidance, you could unintentionally give the prosecution information they will use against you. That’s why we recommend the following steps:
- Do Not Speak to Police Without a Lawyer Present: Police officers may ask questions in a calm or casual tone. You may decide to talk, encouraged at the thought that someone appears interested in your side of the story. Unfortunately, your answers can (and likely will) be used to support the prosecution. Politely state that you want a lawyer before answering anything. We offer pre-filing representation to help you field these questions, so feel free to contact us for assistance in how to deal with interview requests from officers before you are arrested or charged.
- Avoid Contact with the Accuser: Any text, call, or in-person interaction could be misrepresented as harassment or intimidation. Even messages sent through mutual friends can create new allegations or lead to bond violations. Moreover, do not answer any calls or messages (even with a consensual relationship) because of the risk of law enforcement monitoring that communication. For example, a pretext call is a recorded phone call, usually arranged by police, in which a suspected victim or witness speaks with a suspect under law enforcement’s direction to gather evidence of a crime.
- Preserve Potential Evidence: Save text messages, emails, photos, location history, and call logs that may confirm your account of events. Back up digital files in a secure location and keep any physical items that could be relevant, such as clothing or receipts.
- Do Not Discuss the Case Publicly: Social media posts, private messages, or casual conversations can be taken out of context and brought into court. Prosecutors may review your online activity for statements that appear to admit guilt or contradict your defense.
- Follow Any Court or Pretrial Orders: If you are released on bond, follow all restrictions, such as staying away from certain locations, avoiding contact with specific individuals, or not using certain devices. Violating these terms can lead to immediate arrest and additional charges.
- Contact a Criminal Defense Lawyer Immediately: Early involvement allows your lawyer to challenge warrants, seek to reduce charges before they are filed, secure witnesses or evidence before it disappears, prepare plea agreements (if applicable), and file motions to keep inadmissible evidence out of court.
Speak with a Sex Crimes Attorney in Loveland Today
Sex crime allegations in Loveland can result in years in prison, mandatory sex offender registration, and restrictions on where you can live or work. The sooner you have a defense lawyer involved, the better prepared you’ll be to challenge the state’s case and protect your future.
Colorado Lawyer Team takes an active approach from day one. We review your charges, examine the evidence, and determine whether a plea bargain or trial is in your best interests. If you’ve been accused of a sex crime, contact us today to schedule a confidential case review. Call us or fill out our online form to get started.