It’s been two years since the video of the incident leading to George Floyd’s death went viral and set off riots and a public reckoning involving law enforcement and race. The teen who recorded the murder was not the first to pull out her phone and record a heightened...
Criminal Law
Judges do not always accept plea deals
Many assume that criminal cases heard in court are resolved by a judge handing down a decision after a trial. However, 97% of them are resolved by plea bargains – this involves the defendant admitting guilt and the prosecution theoretically seeking more lenient...
Road rage rates skyrocket
It has been a tense couple of years as Coloradans deal with unprecedented challenges. One notable impact has been the increasing number of reckless drivers on the road, which led to a much higher rate of injuries and deaths. This is due to drivers speeding, doing...
Diversion programs work
There has been much debate over the years regarding stringent sentencing and the need for public safety. At one point, the Zero Tolerance movement doled out severe penalties for even minor drug offenses. What lawmakers and taxpayers may not have considered at the time...
Is harassment a crime?
Harassment involves a wide range of behaviors. Here in Colorado, it consists of a person who intentionally attempts to annoy, alarm or otherwise harass. It can also be an obscene gesture or when they strike, shove or kick someone. It can involve using a computer or...
Police can use fake evidence to get confessions
Police are there to protect and serve the communities they work in, so it’s assumed that officers treat people with respect. This assumption is not entirely correct. For example, a police department in Virginia used forged documents with fake DNA evidence on at least...
There are collateral consequences in a conviction
There is a long list of penalties for crimes ranging from Class 1 Felony to Class 3 misdemeanor here in Colorado. They involve serving time in prison, fines, restitution, classes, parole, sentencing alternatives, and other consequences. But having a criminal record...
Reasonable suspicion vs. probable cause
Sometimes it seems that law enforcement can stop someone for any reason. However, the Fourth Amendment says that officers must have reasonable suspicion to legally stop and probable cause to search someone. While the two terms seem to mean the same thing, they apply...
Castle Rock burglar gets 20 years
Michael Loupe, 47, posed as a fire inspector and burgled several businesses in Castle Rock before getting caught in February 2020. He initially posed as the inspector and would then disable the security. He would later return after closing to steal from safes. He was...
Criminal expungement in Colorado
Colorado is one of the states that allow expungement for those arrested or convicted of some crimes. Also known as expunction, this court-ordered process involves sealing or setting aside a criminal conviction. Expunging your criminal record can be a tremendous help...