Today’s blog post highlights two Colorado criminal appeals cases resulting in a notable state Supreme Court ruling that addresses sentencing punishment.Both those matters involved penalties imposed on defendants convicted of possession of a controlled substance in...
Month: May 2020
When companies act criminally
You may have heard that corporations and businesses are technically considered “legal persons." While this classification grants them certain rights (like the ability to pursue a civil lawsuit) it also makes them liable for criminal charges.Recently, Colorado-based...
Why is sexting so problematic for teens?
Let's salute youth. It certainly has its rewards. Life is full of promise. Every day is a new adventure. New friends are potentially around every corner. The experimentation tied to experience and learning is often bold and exciting. Disclaimer: Adolescence also comes...
Home-growers can still be criminalized in Colorado
While Colorado has legalized personal marijuana growth, state law places restrictions on both quantity and process for home growers. Failure to comply with these guidelines could result in a felony. In this post, we will go over the state regulations for personalized...
Police lineups and photo arrays can be highly suggestive
When the police believe they have an eyewitness to a crime, they often bring that person to the station to try to identify a suspect. This is primarily done through a lineup or a photo array. Unfortunately, studies have shown that many identifications by eyewitnesses...
Are you reeling from your traffic ticket or nonchalant about it?
Many Colorado drivers don’t view getting a citation for a behind-the-wheel offense with any real sense of alarm.Candidly, what seasoned motorist with years of driving experience hasn’t been stopped and ticketed on at least one occasion? Many people hearing that a...
What constitutes reasonable suspicion?
Though it may seem that police have a disproportionate amount of power in any interaction, there are rules that law enforcement must follow.For example, checks and balances exist to prevent officers from abusing their power to detain individuals. An officer must have...
Burglary: an often misunderstood criminal charge
Even many law school students fail when it comes to properly assessing whether a criminal charge of burglary makes sense in a given case.Indeed, what is burglary?Here’s a common perception as to what burglary entails: You stole something, so the burglary charge...
What can give rise to an obstruction of justice criminal charge?
Many people who follow criminal law stories and topics have likely seen references to obstruction of justice. What exactly does that mean? Obstruction of justice charge: it doesn't take much Experienced defense attorneys hear it all the time. A client expresses...