Criminal Defense Attorneys
in Denver, Colorado

Criminal Defense Cases We Handle

Being charged with a crime can be frightening and overwhelming. That is why our experienced criminal defense attorneys at Hebets & McCallin help our clients navigate the criminal justice system and protect their rights. We work on the following types of criminal defense cases:

• DUI/Drunk Driving — DUI is known as driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. According to the website of the Colorado General Assembly, it is illegal to operate a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration that exceeds .08%. DWAI is known as driving while ability impaired by alcohol or drugs. This is charged with a blood alcohol concentration that exceeds .05%.
• Violent Crimes — Colorado law recognizes three degrees of assault charges. Depending on the circumstances of the offense, a person may face 1st Degree, 2nd Degree, or 3rd Degree assault charges.
• Drug Crimes — It is illegal to possess, use, sell, or manufacture controlled substances in Colorado.
• Juvenile Offenses — Juveniles under the age of 18 who commit crimes may be treated differently in the criminal justice system because they are considered “juveniles.”
• Criminal Mischief — Knowingly causing damage to someone else’s real or personal property is criminal mischief in Colorado.
• Theft & Shoplifting — All theft offenses in Colorado, including shoplifting, fall under the general theft statutes.
• White Collar Crimes — Some of the most common white-collar crimes in Colorado include corporate fraud, embezzlement, extortion, and Ponzi schemes.
• Motor Vehicle Offenses — Colorado law penalizes reckless driving, careless driving, driving under suspension, hit and run, and other motor vehicle offenses.
• Sex Crimes — Colorado criminalizes many sex offenses, including public indecency, forced oral copulation, sexual assault, unlawful sexual conduct, internet luring, indecent exposure, and others.
• Felony Menacing — A person commits menacing when they knowingly place another individual in fear of imminent/serious bodily injury by threatening physical action.
• Probation Violation — Violating the terms of probation carries the risk of having the probation revoked.
• Record Sealing — People convicted of certain crimes in Colorado have a right to petition the court to seal their records.
• Unemployment Fraud — A person can face unemployment fraud charges when they knowingly make false statements or withhold information in an attempt to receive benefits to which they are not entitled.

Regardless of the criminal charges you face, our criminal defense attorneys at Hebets & McCallin understand how criminal cases proceed and are prepared to vigorously fight for the best possible legal outcome in your case.

The Colorado Criminal Court Process

While trials for misdemeanor cases in Denver, Colorado are held in Denver County Court, the vast majority of felony cases are in Denver District Court. The Colorado criminal court process involves the following steps:

1. Arrest (taking a suspect into custody)
2. Setting a bond
3. Filing charges against the defendant
4. The defendant appears at Advisement or Arraignment
5. The defendant attends a preliminary hearing in county court or district court 
6. A plea hearing takes place
7. A disposition hearing is scheduled
8. The defendant and attorney attend a pre-trial conference to settle the case or to prepare for trial
9. The defendant attends the trial

If you are charged with a crime, navigating the criminal court process regardless of the charges is tough. For this reason, contact a criminal defense attorney in Denver, Colorado, to discuss defense options.

Possible Defenses Against Criminal Accusations

Certain defenses are raised against criminal accusations to avoid a conviction, and your particular charge depends on several factors. Some of the most common defenses include:

1. Accident — You did not intend to commit the offense.
2. Mistaken Identity — While the crime did occur, you are not the one who committed it.
3. Alibi — The alibi states that you were not at the location of the crime. 
4. False Accusation — You are falsely accused of the crime.
5. Necessity — The consequences of not committing the crime are worse. 
6. Duress — Someone forces you to commit the crime. 
7. Entrapment — The police coerced you into committing the crime.
8. Insanity — You have a mental illness that prevents you from understanding right and wrong.
9. Intoxication — You did not have a culpable state of mind because of your intoxication.
10. Self-Defense — You had to commit the crime to defend yourself, your property, or someone else.