Colorado Springs Criminal Law Blog

According to State Bill Colorado, a new bill introduced to the Colorado legislature proposes changes to the laws about where sex offenders who fail to register as an offender are tried and imprisoned for the offense.

Under current Colorado law, a sex offender who fails to register in their place of residence after being freed from imprisonment is sent back to the location where they served their sentence for trial and potential additional jail time. The new bill, SB11-007, repeals the option for the place of trial, and proposes that the offender may be tried in the county in which they live or in the county in which they are apprehended.

The new bill aims to change these stipulations, with the belief that this responsibility places an unjust burden on the state prisons involved. The prisons are held accountable for the expense of transporting and holding the prisoner and may not have the budget for handling crimes that occurred outside of its jurisdiction.

If you have been charged with a sex crime in Colorado, it could be in your best interest to consult with a knowledgeable attorney, who can advise you on the best course of action. Sex crime charges are serious and can have life-long repercussions if a person is convicted. Contact Timothy Bussey, a highly experienced and skilled Colorado Springs sex crimes defense attorney. Mr. Bussey can help you understand the gravity of the charges made against you and will fight hard to make sure the best possible outcome for your case is obtained. Call 719-475-2555 to schedule a free consultation with Mr. Bussey today.

According to The Denver Post, the Colorado Legislature is set to consider revisions to the state’s medical marijuana laws. This comes just one year after writing the most comprehensive rules for the sale of medical marijuana in any of the 15 states in the U.S. that permit medical marijuana. House Bill 1043 is scheduled for its first committee hearing on February 3.

If passed, the bill would freeze state licenses for marijuana shops until 2012, and also make clear what physicians can recommend medical marijuana to patients. The bill would also set new rules for employees at pot shops. Marijuana shop workers are required to have resided in Colorado for two years because lawmakers do not want to allow out-of-state marijuana entrepreneurs. However, the new bill would revise this to limit the residency requirement to owners but not employees. The bill also modifies the lifetime ban on pot shop owners who have a felony drug conviction. If the bill is passed, persons with drug felonies would be exempt from getting a license from the state for just five years. Additionally, the bill would permit patients to shop at a marijuana shop immediately after filing a medical marijuana application.

Other changes the bill would bring include requiring caregivers, who are providers of medical marijuana on a small scale to patients, to register with the state. Commercial marijuana growing facilities would be required to make their location known to the public. Also, for the first time, a marijuana-infused-products maker would be limited regarding how many plans they could grow.

If you have been charged with a marijuana-related drug offense in Colorado, you may be confused and unsure of what you should do next. State laws regarding marijuana are incredibly complex and are constantly changing. The Colorado marijuana defense lawyers at The Bussey Law Firm, P.C. can help you understand the charges made against you as well as the best course of action. We have extensive experience litigating drug crime cases in Colorado and will work hard to defend your legal rights in a court of law. To schedule a free consultation, call 719-475-2555.

According to KRDO News Channel 13, statistics for drunk driving arrests in Colorado over the holiday period of November 23, 2010 and January 2, 2011 were recently released by Colorado State Patrol (CSP) police.

Over the holiday period between 2010 and 2011, law enforcement officials arrested 1,556 people during what the CSP calls their ongoing “Heat is On” campaign, which targets impaired drivers, particularly during the holiday seasons. During the time period, 41 people lost their lives in traffic accidents in Colorado, and 14 of those fatalities, approximately 34 percent, were the result of an alcohol-related crash.

During Thanksgiving week, there were five alcohol-related traffic accident fatalities in Colorado out of a total of 6 fatalities. During the month of December, 9 people lost their lives in alcohol-related accidents. From New Year’s Eve through the weekend, there weren’t any alcohol-related traffic crash deaths.

Last year, in 2009, there were 41 fatalities in traffic crashes over the same holiday period, but only 11 people, about 27 percent, died in alcohol-related accidents. There were 1,630 DUI arrests during the same time period.

With increased patrol and enforcement over the holidays, as well as with a higher number of motorists on the road, improper arrests for drunk driving in Colorado can occur. Often, law enforcement officials use Standardized Field Sobriety Tests (SFSTs) to determine whether an individual is driving while intoxicated (DWI) or driving under the influence (DUI). However, SFSTs have been shown to be very subjective and arrests can be made based upon a police officer’s opinion instead of concrete evidence.

While the holiday season has passed, it is important to remember to plan ahead when celebrating any event to prevent alcohol-related traffic accidents and possible drunk driving charges in Colorado. Doing so could save your life and the lives of others. Additionally, the penalties of a drunk driving conviction in Colorado can be steep and may include jail time and heavy fines.

If you have been charged with drunk driving in Colorado, remember that you have legal rights. It may be easy to feel that there are no choices left but to admit guilt following an arrest. However, it is important that you are aware that with aggressive representation, a strong defense can be built on your behalf, which may result in reduced punishment or alternative sentencing. At The Bussey Law Firm, P.C. our Colorado DUI lawyers have the necessary experience and skills to work hard to earn you the best possible outcome in your case. Call our law office today at 719-475-2555 to schedule a free consultation.

The Denver Post reports the story of a man who was recently arrested and believed to be an alleged serial burglar by Eagle County police, who used Facebook to help them find and then arrest the man.

Using the man’s Facebook friends, police were able to trace him to Boulder, where he was celebrating the New Year holiday. On the popular social networking site, users are able to restrict access to their list of friends, which includes their names and the ability to contact them. However, the man did not set those privacy controls, which allowed police to contact the man’s 120 online friends, and warned them not to shelter him. They also asked that if anyone knew of his whereabouts to contact them, and many of the man’s friends responded with tips, and one friend reported recently seeing him.

Now the man is in the Eagle County jail, held without bond. He is accused of breaking into at least four homes in Eagle-Vail, where he allegedly stole computers, various electronics, jewelry, and prescription medications. He is also being investigated for more than seven felony crimes in Colorado, including theft, identity theft, burglary, and possession of burglary tools.

According to Eagle police Sgt. Gordon Chicoine, Eagle police use Facebook frequently to obtain information about suspects in an investigation. He says many make incriminating posts on the social networking site. A recent survey by the International Association of Chiefs of Police found that the law enforcement’s use of social networking sites has become more common. Approximately 62 percent of the 728 agencies surveyed used social media sites in criminal investigations, and about 40 percent of the agencies use these sites to ask for tips in criminal investigations.

If you have been charged with a theft crime in Colorado, it is important to remember you have legal rights. Consulting with an experienced criminal defense lawyer can help you understand what options are available to you and explain the accusations that you have been charged with. At The Bussey Law Firm, P.C. our Colorado theft defense attorneys have handled many criminal law cases, including charges of theft and burglary. Contact us today by calling 719-475-2555 to schedule a free and confidential consultation of your case.

The owner of a Colorado chain of hydroponic supply stores may be reaching the end of his involvement in an extended investigation by federal prosecutors, who claim that the store owner has been helping others set up illegal marijuana growing operations across the state.

According to The Denver Post, federal prosecutors have accused the store owner of receiving nearly $1.3 million in 2005 and 2006 for helping marijuana growers set up hydroponic systems for their plants. Prosecutors claim that the store owner put the money into his business accounts. Now, federal prosecutors and the store owner’s attorneys state that they may soon have settled the case, though they have not disclosed any specifics.

The investigation began when federal agents attempted to seize five houses in various Colorado cities that agents alleged were used to grow illegal marijuana. They also filed suits to seize over $48,000 in cash found at one of the houses. In 2009, federal agents raided nine additional houses, seizing 981 young marijuana plants. At least one homeowner has claimed that he was growing the plants legally under Colorado’s medical-marijuana laws.

The overlapping and contradictory requirements of local ordinances, state laws, and federal laws regarding marijuana growing and use can make a marijuana-related drug charge into a complex and confusing maze. The aggressive and experienced representation of a Colorado marijuana crime defense attorney may be your best chance of meeting the charges head on. The Bussey Law Firm, P.C. has experience with drug crimes cases in Colorado and will fight to win the best possible outcome in your case. For a free and confidential consultation, call 719-475-2555 today.