Colorado Springs Criminal Law Blog

West Colorado Avenue has long been referred to as “no-man’s land,” especially between 31st Street and the Manitou Springs city line, for its patchwork of law enforcement coverage that has often left area business owners wondering which police officers, if any, would show up if they called for help. Recent efforts by patrols from various agencies have increased police presence in the area, however, and crime rates there are down, according to a recent article in the Colorado Springs Gazette.

The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office and the Colorado Springs police have both put patrols on West Colorado Avenue and surrounding streets in recent weeks, especially after business owners banded together asking for help. The business owners also encouraged the city to repair some streetlights in the area that had burned out. After several major arrests on suspicion of felonies, such as robberies, local business owners say that crime rates in the area seem to be going down.

The area can be confusing to patrol because which law enforcement agency is responsible for responding to a call often depends on where the call is coming from. Along West Colorado Avenue, some lots fall under the city’s jurisdiction, while others are the responsibility of the county. Until recently, a failure to coordinate forces meant that often, no police were available for the area at all.

If you’ve been arrested for or charged with a crime, please don’t hesitate to call the experienced Colorado criminal defense lawyers at The Bussey Law Firm, P.C. We’re dedicated to helping those facing criminal charges navigate the system successfully, protecting your rights while also seeking the best possible outcome in your case. To learn more about how we can help, call our office today at (719) 475-2555 for a free consultation.

People who have served their sentences often have trouble re-entering the working world, according to a recent article in the Denver Post. Restrictions on jobs, housing, and other important opportunities and resources can make it very difficult for someone who has paid a debt to society to rejoin that society - increasing the likelihood that a person may reconsider going back to prison rather than continue to fight a losing battle.

A bill recently introduced in the Colorado legislature seeks to help people rejoin society after conviction by giving them a better chance at securing work and other opportunities. The bill calls for several small but important changes to the criminal justice system. These include sealing criminal records after three years of “clean living,” allowing employers to keep employees even if they have been convicted of a felony, and allowing courts to issue “rehabilitation certificates” that would show someone with a criminal record has served his or her sentence and gone on to avoid any further entanglements with the legal system.

These changes are small, but supporters hope they will create more opportunities for people who have served sentences for felony convictions to find work and rejoin the community, allowing them to build a life instead of being effectively shut out of society.

At The Bussey Law Firm, P.C., our experienced Colorado Springs felony defense attorneys are dedicated to fighting on behalf of those who are charged with a felony or any other criminal offense. We will build an aggressive defense that protects your rights while also fighting for the best possible outcome in your case. For a free, confidential consultation, call us today at (719) 475-2555.

Most felony crimes in Colorado are classified in one of six different possible classes. Class One felonies are the most serious, while Class Six felonies are considered the least serious. Some felony crimes are not classified at all, however. Known as “unclassified felonies,” these crimes have sentences fixed by statute instead of by the class they fall into.

Some of the felonies that are currently not classified include:

• Making a profit on public money by using it for any unauthorized purpose, if you are a public official.
• Violating Colorado’s antitrust laws. A conviction for this kind of violation can mean a fine of up to $1,000,000.00.
• Rioting in a detention facility can lead to 2 to 10 years additional prison time, if a person is convicted of actively participating in the riot.
• Knowingly endangering air quality by releasing prohibited pollutants can lead to a fine of up to $50,000 per day, up to a total of $1,000,000.00.

Not all the unclassified felonies in Colorado are listed here. However, an unclassified felony conviction can be just as serious as a classified felony conviction, including the same risks of prison time, fines, and other life-altering penalties.

A felony conviction carries serious penalties, including possible prison time. At The Bussey Law Firm, P.C., our experienced Colorado felony defense lawyers are dedicated to building an aggressive defense for each client we represent - one that both protects your legal rights and fights for the best possible outcome in your case. For a free and confidential consultation, call our office today at (719) 475-2555.

Being charged with or convicted of certain types of crimes in Colorado can result not only in jail time, fines, or other court-imposed penalties, but also in the suspension or revocation of your driver’s license. If you rely on your license to get to work, take your kids to school, or do any of the other daily tasks of living, losing your license can pose a serious hardship.

Some of the criminal convictions and other situations that can affect your driver’s license include:

• Alcohol-related convictions, such as driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs (DUI) or driving while ability impaired (DWAI).
• Driving privileges that are suspended or revoked in another state. Colorado may not issue you a license, or may suspend or revoke your Colorado license, if your license in another state has been suspended or revoked.
• Aggravated motor vehicle theft or felonies involving a motor vehicle - if you’re convicted of one of these, your driver’s license may be suspended or revoked as well.
• Falling behind on child support payments. Colorado may suspend or revoke your license if you fall behind on child support payments. This situation can further prevent you from getting to work so that you can make the money you need to support your children.

Even merely being charged with a crime in Colorado can result in your driver’s license being suspended or revoked, as well as other penalties. At The Bussey Law Firm, P.C., our dedicated Colorado Springs criminal defense attorneys have experience with all stages of the process, from representing you in DMV hearings to fighting for the best possible outcome in court. For a free and confidential consultation, don’t hesitate to call us. Our number is (719) 475-2555.

In Colorado and other state courts, a felony conviction may result in anywhere from thirteen months to a lifetime in prison, depending on the seriousness of the crime for which a person is found guilty. Under federal gun-crime laws, however, a person who is charged in federal court but refuses to take a plea bargain might face literally hundreds of years behind bars - far longer than any real human being will live.

These laws, known as “mandatory minimum” laws, require a jury that finds a defendant guilty of certain gun-related crimes to sentence that person to a certain number of years. Sometimes, the years can add up to staggering amounts. For instance, a man convicted of homicide by a federal court in Philadelphia recently found himself facing a 232-year prison sentence. In a state court, however, he might have faced a prison sentence he could reasonably expect to live through.

The huge difference between state and federal sentencing for felony gun crimes has come under public scrutiny recently. The threat of a long sentence causes many federal defendants to plead guilty - even if their rights were violated or the charges do not fit the facts of their case.

At The Bussey Law Firm, P.C., we understand how a felony charge or conviction can permanently change the course of your life. That's why our Colorado Springs felony weapons crime lawyers are dedicated to fighting for the rights of each client we represent, while also building an aggressive defense that seeks the best possible outcome. To learn more about your legal rights, call us today at (719) 475-2555 for a free and confidential consultation.

Six Colorado law enforcement agencies recently received a joint grant that allowed each agency to purchase an electronic license plate reader. The devices, which are installed in police patrol vehicles, allow officers to scan license plates at a much higher rate than a person can check them ordinarily - and it automatically alerts officers if a plate belongs to a car that has been reported as stolen.

The devices, which ordinarily cost about $18,000 apiece, are equipped with a small scanner and connected to a database of Colorado license plate numbers. As a police officer drives through a parking lot or other place where cars are sitting still, the device scans each license plate and checks its number against those in the database. If it finds a match, a notice pops up informing the officer that the license plate is in the database and explaining why it was entered. The device can examine 400 plates an hour. Police officers double-check any “hits” to make sure the plate was read correctly and take action if needed.

Officers in Longmont, Boulder, Lafayette, Louisville, Erie, and the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office say the device has made it much easier to locate Colorado stolen vehicles. It also alerts them if a registered sex offender’s vehicle is parked too close to a prohibited area, or if the vehicle’s owner has a restricted or suspended driver’s license.

If you or someone you love has been charged with a theft crime in Colorado, you need a dedicated Colorado theft defense attorney who will fight to protect your rights. At The Bussey Law Firm, P.C., we fight to protect the rights of every client, as well as to seek the best possible outcome in court. For a free and confidential consultation, call us today at (719) 475-2555.

Colorado law enforcement agencies have reported an increase in Colorado auto thefts - not of entire vehicles, but of certain parts that may contain valuable metals and other materials, according to a recent news report from KKTV. The parts most often targeted are catalytic converters, which contain platinum and other metals that can often be scrapped for money - and some scrapyards don’t ask where a person got their hands on the things they’re turning in.

A southern Colorado auto repair shop noted that many new customers have come through its doors recently needing a new catalytic converter installed on their vehicles because the old one had been cut away. Most vehicles have between one and four catalytic converters. These devices improve the quality of exhaust emissions by turning some toxic chemicals into less harmful ones. When they are simply cut away from the vehicle’s exhaust system, however, they can cause problems with the vehicle’s ability to run, including a great deal of noise. Repairing a catalytic converter can be expensive, and if a vehicle is kept outdoors, there are few ways to ensure its safety.

Every person accused of a theft crime in Colorado has legal rights, including the right to an experienced Colorado theft crime defense lawyer to help them fight their case in court. At The Bussey Law Firm, P.C., we’re dedicated to fighting to protect the rights of every person we represent, while also building an aggressive defense that seeks the best possible outcome in each case. For a free and confidential consultation, don’t hesitate to call us today at (719) 475-2555.

Super Bowl Sunday means plenty of parties as people gather to enjoy the biggest professional football game of the year. Unfortunately, it also means increased law enforcement patrols, sobriety checkpoints, and other methods to stop suspected drunk drivers. Police know that many people enjoy alcohol as part of their celebrations, and they assume this means more people will be driving without first having taken the time to sober up.

If you’re going to a Super Bowl party this year, here are some steps you can take to help yourself and your friends avoid an arrest on suspicion of driving while impaired (DUI):

• Plan ahead. Choose a designated driver, call a cab, or plan to take public transportation or walk. If you’re planning to drink, also plan not to get behind the wheel.
• If you must drive, switch to non-alcoholic drinks at least an hour before you get behind the wheel. NFL stadiums stop serving alcohol at the end of the game’s third quarter, so this might be a good time for you to switch your drink as well. Have a meal or a large snack to help your body absorb alcohol.
• Bring along the numbers for local cab companies. Not only will you have a way to get a sober ride, but you will also be able to call for friends who might need one too.

At The Bussey Law Firm, P.C., our experienced Colorado Springs DUI defense attorneys have handled a wide range of drunk-driving-related cases. We know how to examine the details of each client’s situation and build an aggressive defense that protects your rights while fighting for the best possible outcome in your case. To learn more about your legal rights and options after a DUI arrest or charge, call us today at (719) 475-2555. The initial consultation is free and completely confidential.