Adams County Felony Lawyer
A felony charge in Adams County sets in motion a process that moves quickly, carries lasting consequences, and demands decisions that most people have never had to make before. The moment an arrest happens, prosecutors begin building their case. Grand juries can return indictments without your knowledge. Preliminary hearings get scheduled. Every procedural moment matters, and arriving at each one without counsel puts you at a measurable disadvantage. Working with an Adams County felony lawyer from the outset is not a luxury reserved for serious cases; it is the minimum any person charged with a felony in this jurisdiction should consider.
Adams County handles its felony docket through the 17th Judicial District, which sits at the Adams County Justice Center in Brighton. That courthouse sees a substantial volume of serious criminal cases drawn from a county that spans Commerce City, Thornton, Westminster, Northglenn, Federal Heights, and other densely populated communities. The prosecutors who handle felony cases there are experienced, their charging decisions are deliberate, and the charges they file carry sentencing ranges that can stretch from a year in the Department of Corrections to decades, depending on the class of felony and the circumstances alleged. The gap between a well-prepared defense and a poorly prepared one shows up not just at trial but at every stage before it.
Reid DeChant of DeChant Law has defended clients in Adams County courts throughout his career, first as a public defender handling high volumes of cases across Denver, Broomfield, and Adams County courtrooms, and now as a private attorney who brings that same courtroom depth to clients who retain him directly. He knows the terrain, the institutional rhythms of the 17th Judicial District, and what it actually takes to move a felony case toward a favorable resolution.
What DeChant Law Brings to an Adams County Felony Case
Reid DeChant built his legal practice on a foundation that distinguishes him from attorneys who have spent most of their careers in offices rather than courtrooms. His years as a public defender meant defending clients accused of crimes across the full spectrum of criminal law, from DUI and assault to sexual assault and homicide. That breadth of experience is directly relevant to felony defense, because the skills required to win a serious case: cross-examining law enforcement witnesses, challenging forensic evidence, reading juries, and constructing a narrative that holds up under pressure, are skills that only develop through sustained trial work.
Reid is a graduate of the Trial Lawyers College, a selective program founded by Gerry Spence and widely regarded as one of the most rigorous advocacy training programs available to criminal defense attorneys in the country. The program emphasizes authentic storytelling, genuine connection with juries and witnesses, and the courage to humanize a client in front of a room that may have already formed judgments. These are not abstract skills. They are the difference between a defense that recites legal arguments and a defense that actually moves people. Reid is also a member of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and the Colorado Criminal Defense Bar, affiliations that keep him connected to current strategy, case law development, and the broader community of serious defense practitioners.
Clients who work with Reid consistently describe the experience as being treated as a person rather than a file. That matters in a felony case, where the client needs to understand what is happening, participate in decisions, and trust that the attorney standing beside them at the counsel table has genuinely prepared. For anyone searching for a felony attorney in Adams County, that combination of trial-tested experience and client-centered practice is not something to overlook.
Felony Charges Most Commonly Filed in Adams County
- Assault Charges: Adams County prosecutors regularly file first, second, and third-degree assault charges arising from altercations, domestic incidents, and incidents involving law enforcement or serious bodily injury. Colorado statutes classify these offenses differently based on intent and injury severity, with first-degree assault as a class 3 felony carrying significant prison exposure.
- Drug Felonies: Possession with intent to distribute, distribution, and manufacturing of controlled substances including methamphetamine, fentanyl, cocaine, and heroin generate a substantial portion of the felony docket in Adams County. The I-76 and I-270 corridors running through the county are active law enforcement zones for drug interdiction stops that lead to felony charges.
- Theft and Financial Crimes: Colorado classifies theft by value, and theft above certain dollar thresholds becomes a felony. Identity theft, fraud, and embezzlement charges arising from workplace or financial relationships are also prosecuted aggressively in the 17th Judicial District.
- Felony Menacing and Weapons Offenses: Threatening behavior involving a real or perceived deadly weapon elevates menacing to a class 5 felony. Unlawful possession of a firearm by a prior offender carries its own felony classification and mandatory sentencing considerations under Colorado law.
- Sexual Assault and Related Offenses: These cases are prosecuted with significant resources, often involve complex evidence including DNA, electronic records, and witness credibility issues, and carry mandatory sex offender registration requirements upon conviction. Defense strategy requires a lawyer who understands both the evidentiary and collateral consequences of these charges.
- Domestic Violence Felonies: A domestic violence designation attached to a felony charge in Adams County affects bond conditions, firearm rights, and plea possibilities. Prosecutors in the 17th Judicial District take DV-flagged felonies seriously, and the dynamics of these cases, including recanting witnesses and evidence that evolves over time, require specific defense experience.
- Burglary and Robbery: Second-degree burglary of a dwelling is a class 3 felony in Colorado. Robbery and aggravated robbery carry their own escalating penalties based on weapon use and victim circumstances. These are common charges in Adams County that carry meaningful prison exposure for defendants convicted at trial or through plea.
The Felony Process in the 17th Judicial District and What You Should Do Now
Felony cases in Adams County follow a structured procedural path that begins either with an arrest or with the filing of charges following a police investigation. After an initial advisement, defendants face a preliminary hearing or a grand jury process depending on how the case was charged. At the preliminary hearing, a judge determines whether probable cause exists to proceed; this is an early stage where a prepared defense attorney can sometimes challenge the sufficiency of the prosecution’s evidence and, in some cases, get charges reduced or dismissed before the case ever proceeds further.
After that threshold, the case moves toward arraignment, where a plea is entered, and then into a pretrial phase involving motions, discovery, and hearings that can significantly shape the ultimate outcome. Suppression motions challenging unlawful searches or improper police conduct can eliminate critical evidence. Motions related to identification procedures, witness statements, or chain of custody issues can change the complexion of the prosecution’s case entirely. The pretrial phase is not a waiting room on the way to trial; it is where cases are frequently won or substantially improved.
If you have been arrested or believe you are under investigation for a felony in Adams County, the most important immediate step is to stop talking to law enforcement and to retain counsel before any further contact. Statements made in the hours and days after an arrest are routinely used against defendants. Even statements that seem exculpatory or neutral can be characterized in damaging ways by a skilled prosecutor. The Adams County Justice Center is located at 1100 Judicial Center Drive in Brighton. Bond hearings happen quickly, and the initial conditions set at that hearing can affect your ability to work, live at home, and participate in your own defense throughout the life of the case.
Gathering documentation relevant to your case early matters. Preserve any text messages, photographs, video footage, or records that bear on the alleged incident. Identify potential witnesses while their memories are fresh. Do not contact complaining witnesses or alleged victims directly, as this can lead to additional charges or bond revocation. Your attorney needs to hear the full picture from you in a privileged setting, without the instinct to minimize or frame facts for someone who is not bound by confidentiality.
How Felony Classifications Shape the Defense Strategy
Colorado categorizes felonies into six classes, with class 1 carrying the most severe consequences and class 6 at the lower end of the felony range. Each class carries a presumptive sentencing range, and certain offenses carry extraordinary risk mitigation and aggravation factors that can push sentences above or below the presumptive range based on the facts found by a judge or jury. Some felonies also carry mandatory minimums or sentence-enhancing provisions based on prior criminal history, use of weapons, or victim characteristics.
Understanding the classification of the charge is the starting point for defense strategy, because it determines what is at stake at every negotiation point. A class 4 felony and a class 2 felony are not simply different numbers; they represent entirely different sentencing worlds and different decision trees when evaluating whether to take a case to trial, accept a plea to a reduced charge, or contest specific sentencing enhancements. An attorney who has handled these cases at volume in Colorado courts understands how these calculations work in practice, not just in theory.
Colorado also recognizes distinctions between presumptive and aggravated sentencing ranges, and certain felony convictions trigger mandatory parole periods after release from prison. Extraordinary aggravating circumstances alleged by the prosecution, such as prior felony convictions or particularly brutal conduct, can shift sentencing exposure significantly. A defense attorney working a felony case in Adams County needs to account for all of these variables when building strategy, communicating with the client about realistic outcomes, and making decisions about pretrial motions, expert witnesses, and trial preparation.
Questions About Felony Charges in Adams County
What is the difference between a felony and a misdemeanor in Colorado?
Colorado divides criminal offenses into petty offenses, misdemeanors, and felonies, with felonies representing the most serious tier. Felony convictions can result in sentences served in the Colorado Department of Corrections rather than county jail, and they carry lasting consequences for employment, housing, firearms rights, and in some cases professional licenses. The class of the felony, ranging from class 1 through class 6, determines the baseline sentencing range the court works from.
Can a felony charge in Adams County be reduced to a misdemeanor?
Yes, charge reductions through negotiated pleas happen regularly in the 17th Judicial District. Whether a reduction is available depends on the nature of the offense, the defendant’s criminal history, the strength of the prosecution’s evidence, and the specific policies of the Adams County District Attorney’s Office at the time. A defense attorney with relationships and experience in that courthouse understands the realistic parameters of what prosecutors are likely to offer and what arguments might move a case toward a more favorable charge.
How long does a felony case typically take to resolve in Adams County?
Felony cases in Adams County can take anywhere from several months to well over a year, depending on the complexity of the charges, whether significant pretrial motions are filed, the volume of discovery, and whether the case proceeds to trial. Cases that resolve through plea agreements generally move faster than cases set for trial. The availability of court dates in the 17th Judicial District and scheduling demands on both sides also affect the timeline.
Will a felony conviction affect my right to own or possess a firearm?
Yes. A felony conviction in Colorado or any other state results in the loss of the right to possess firearms under both state and federal law. This applies regardless of the class of felony and regardless of whether the sentence involved incarceration. For individuals who currently own firearms, a conviction requires lawful disposition of those weapons. This is one of the many collateral consequences that makes fighting a felony charge seriously worthwhile.
What happens at a preliminary hearing in Adams County?
At a preliminary hearing in the 17th Judicial District, the prosecution presents evidence sufficient to establish probable cause that the defendant committed the charged offense. The standard is lower than at trial, but a skilled defense attorney can cross-examine witnesses, challenge the evidence, and in some cases persuade the court that probable cause does not exist or that certain charges should be reduced. A strong preliminary hearing performance can also yield useful information about the prosecution’s theory of the case and the reliability of their witnesses.
Can prior misdemeanor convictions affect sentencing on a new felony charge?
Colorado’s sentencing framework looks at criminal history when determining where within the sentencing range a judge should sentence a defendant. While misdemeanor convictions generally do not elevate the class of a new felony charge the way prior felonies might, they can be relevant to the court’s assessment of character and risk and can influence sentencing discretion within the allowable range. Prior domestic violence convictions carry additional statutory implications in certain contexts.
What if law enforcement violated my rights during the arrest or investigation?
Constitutional violations during an investigation or arrest, including unlawful stops, searches without a valid warrant or recognized exception, or failure to properly advise a suspect of Miranda rights before custodial interrogation, can result in the exclusion of evidence obtained through that violation. If key evidence is suppressed, the prosecution’s case may weaken significantly or collapse entirely. Identifying and pursuing suppression arguments is a core function of pretrial defense work in any felony case.
How does a domestic violence designation change a felony case in Adams County?
A domestic violence designation is a sentence enhancer in Colorado, not a separate offense. When applied to a felony charge, it affects mandatory arrest policies, imposes specific conditions on bond including no-contact orders, restricts firearm possession during the pendency of the case, and limits certain plea options. It also affects victim notification requirements and can trigger mandatory treatment programs as part of sentencing. Prosecutors in Adams County treat DV-designated felonies with particular attention, and defense strategy must account for these added dimensions.
Is it possible to avoid prison on a felony conviction in Colorado?
Probation is available for many Colorado felony convictions, particularly at the lower end of the classification scale and for defendants without significant criminal history. Some offenses carry mandatory minimums that restrict the court’s discretion, and violent felonies often trigger different sentencing considerations than non-violent ones. The specific facts of the case, the class of the offense, and the defendant’s history all shape whether probation, a split sentence, or incarceration is the likely outcome. This is precisely why the defense strategy chosen throughout the case matters so much.
What role does a defense attorney play after a conviction in a felony case?
Representation does not necessarily end at a verdict or plea. Sentencing advocacy is a distinct and critical phase where a defense attorney presents mitigation, argues for probation or reduced incarceration, and challenges inappropriate sentencing enhancements. If a conviction follows a trial, appellate review may be available to challenge legal errors made during the proceedings. Post-conviction work, including motions to seal or modify conditions of supervision, is another area where continued representation can make a practical difference in a client’s life.
Representing Adams County Felony Clients Across the 17th Judicial District and Beyond
DeChant Law represents clients facing felony charges throughout Adams County and the surrounding region. That includes Thornton, Commerce City, Westminster, Northglenn, Federal Heights, Brighton, Derby, Henderson, Bennett, and Strasburg, as well as clients from unincorporated Adams County communities who find themselves charged through the 17th Judicial District. The firm also handles cases in neighboring jurisdictions, including Denver County, Broomfield County, Jefferson County, Arapahoe County, and Douglas County, wherever the circumstances of a case lead. Whether the charges arise from an incident along the I-76 corridor near Commerce City, a stop on US-85 near Henderson, or an investigation that began in one jurisdiction and crossed into another, Reid DeChant is prepared to follow that case into the courtroom where it will be resolved.
Speak With an Adams County Felony Attorney Before the Next Court Date
The window between an arrest and the first significant court appearance is shorter than most people realize, and the decisions made in that window ripple forward through the entire case. An Adams County felony attorney at DeChant Law can engage immediately, appear at bond hearings, begin reviewing the evidence, and build a defense strategy from the ground up rather than catching up after critical moments have already passed. Reid DeChant has defended clients at every stage of the felony process in Adams County and surrounding jurisdictions, from the initial advisement through jury verdict, and he brings the same level of preparation and personal attention to every case he accepts. Contact DeChant Law to schedule a consultation and get a clear-eyed assessment of where your case stands and what can be done about it.
