Criminal charges can arise in the form of a misdemeanor or a felony. The primary difference between a felony and misdemeanor charge is the severity of the potential penalties. Felonies are considered more serious, harmful crimes and thus result in longer jail sentences and costlier fines than misdemeanors. Practically, a felony and a misdemeanor conviction carry a variety of different...
Continue ReadingCan I be Charged for Possessing Drugs That Aren’t Mine in Colorado To prove drugs are not yours, you must demonstrate that you had no knowledge of their presence or control over them, such as in cases of constructive possession where drugs are found in spaces you do not exclusively control, like a friend’s car or a shared home....
Continue ReadingYou will often hear the phrase, “possession is 9/10ths of the law,” meaning that a person with actual possession of a piece of property holds a stronger legal claim to it than anyone else. In most cases, people use the phrase to describe ownership rights in a piece of real or personal property. But if you are charged with...
Continue ReadingThe State of Colorado characterizes the crime of assault based on the severity of the incident. The law uses the term “degree” to differentiate one level of assault from another. However, many people get confused over the difference between the degrees of assault in Colorado. As a result, a common question is, What does 3rd-degree assault mean in Colorado? ...
Continue ReadingWhether you have a long history of run-ins with the law or a mere blemish on your record from your college days, it probably feels like an elephant on your shoulders. If you have ever been arrested or charged with a criminal offense, you likely cringe and cross your fingers whenever you apply for a job, loan, or academic...
Continue ReadingYou have a right to defend yourself or another person in Colorado. In some situations, the right to protect yourself is absolute. However, some situations could arise where the prosecutor does not believe you had the right to use deadly force in self-defense—and if that happens, you could face a murder charge. Suppose you killed another person while defending...
Continue ReadingHow Does Prosecutorial Misconduct Affect Cases? Prosecutors are government lawyers who handle investigations and/or prosecutions of criminal offenses. Their goal is to protect the public and adhere to their government duties by working to put criminals behind bars. In Berger v. United States, 1953, the court held that the prosecutor “is in a peculiar and very definite sense the servant...
Continue ReadingBeware: Illicit Activities Are Frequent on Halloween Night Halloween is a beloved holiday for many Americans, allowing them to dress-up, trick-or-treat and party. However, like with all good things, your Halloween celebration can quickly come to an end. Crimes are often committed at a higher rate on holidays like New Year’s Eve, Labor Day and Halloween. As Halloween quickly...
Continue ReadingLegal Voting in the 2020 Presidential Election The presidential election is approaching, so you must prepare to exercise your voting rights properly. If you read or watch the news, you may have heard a lot of talk about voter fraud posing a threat to this year’s election. More specifically, President Trump has passionately denounced mail-in voting over the last...
Continue ReadingBackground Checks for Guns Increased by 40%, FBI Reports Global pandemic. School and business closures. Unstable economy. Nationwide protests. Police brutality. The desire for self-protection. These are some leading factors that may have resulted in the increase in gun sales in 2020. The FBI reported performing over 4.3 million firearm background checks in January 2021 alone, compared to 2.7...
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