Aurora Juvenile Crimes Lawyer
When a young person in Aurora is arrested, the clock starts moving faster than most families realize. School enrollment, scholarship eligibility, military service options, and future employment opportunities can all be shaped by what happens in the next few weeks. Aurora juvenile crimes lawyer Reid DeChant understands that a charge filed against a teenager is not just a legal matter for today, it is a decision point that can follow that young person for years if it is not handled correctly from the start.
Colorado’s juvenile justice system operates on principles that differ meaningfully from adult criminal court, and Arapahoe County handles a significant volume of juvenile cases each year out of the Arapahoe County Courthouse in Centennial. The system is designed with rehabilitation in mind, which creates real opportunities for a young person to resolve a case without a permanent record, but those opportunities are not automatic. They require a defense attorney who knows how to work the system, when to challenge evidence, and how to present a juvenile client’s full story to the court in a way that moves the outcome toward dismissal, diversion, or the least restrictive disposition possible.
DeChant Law represents juveniles and their families throughout Aurora and the surrounding Arapahoe County communities. Reid DeChant brings public defender trial experience and training from the Trial Lawyers College to every case, treating each juvenile client as a full human being whose story deserves to be told carefully and with real advocacy behind it.
What Juvenile Cases Actually Look Like in Aurora and Arapahoe County
Aurora sits primarily within Arapahoe County, with portions extending into Adams County and Douglas County. Depending on where a juvenile is arrested, the case may be heard in different courts with different prosecutors and different judicial tendencies. Understanding that geography matters in practice is part of what separates effective juvenile defense from generic representation.
Juvenile cases in Colorado are typically handled in the Juvenile Division of district court. Judges in these cases have broad discretion to impose everything from informal adjustments and diversion agreements to commitment to a juvenile correctional facility. That discretion cuts both ways. An attorney who knows how to present mitigation, challenge the sufficiency of the evidence, and negotiate with a deputy district attorney can often move a case toward outcomes that protect the juvenile’s record and future. An attorney who shows up without preparation or a genuine understanding of the child’s circumstances cannot.
The Arapahoe County District Attorney’s Office actively prosecutes juvenile cases. Serious offenses, including violent felonies committed by older juveniles, can be subject to direct file to adult court, which strips away the protections of the juvenile system entirely and exposes the young person to adult sentencing. This is one of the most consequential decisions that can happen in a juvenile case, and it often happens early. Having an Aurora juvenile crimes attorney involved from the moment of arrest or the first court appearance is not a luxury; it is a practical necessity for families who want to preserve every option.
Common Juvenile Charges Defended Across Aurora
- Theft and Shoplifting: Aurora’s retail corridors, including the Town Center at Aurora and the Fitzsimons area, generate regular shoplifting arrests involving juveniles. Under Colorado law, theft charges are graded by value of the property, and even a relatively low-value theft can result in a delinquency adjudication that affects school disciplinary records and future background checks.
- Assault and Fighting: Physical altercations at Aurora schools, after sporting events, or in public spaces frequently result in assault charges against juveniles. Third-degree assault is a common charge at this level, and domestic violence designators can be added when the alleged victim is a family member, which changes the procedural landscape significantly.
- Drug Possession: Despite Colorado’s adult cannabis laws, marijuana possession by minors remains illegal and is prosecutable as a juvenile offense. Possession of other controlled substances, including prescription medications without authorization, can result in more serious charges with mandatory treatment components.
- Vandalism and Criminal Mischief: Graffiti cases and property damage charges appear regularly in Aurora juvenile courts. Colorado’s criminal mischief statute grades the offense by dollar value of the damage, and the penalties escalate quickly when damage to public property or multiple properties is aggregated.
- Trespassing and Burglary: Charges ranging from misdemeanor trespass to felony burglary can arise from juveniles entering abandoned properties, school buildings after hours, or commercial spaces. Burglary in particular carries serious consequences and can trigger direct file consideration for older juveniles.
- Weapons Offenses: Possession of a firearm or knife on school grounds in Aurora is a serious charge under both Colorado state law and federal statutes, and it routinely triggers both criminal proceedings and school expulsion processes simultaneously. These cases require prompt legal attention on both tracks.
- Internet and Technology Offenses: Charges involving unlawful use of electronic communications, cyber harassment, or sexting between minors have increased substantially and can carry sex offender registration implications in some circumstances, making early defense intervention critical.
Why Families Choose DeChant Law for Aurora Juvenile Defense
Reid DeChant’s background as a former public defender gave him the kind of courtroom volume that most private attorneys simply do not accumulate. He has defended clients in Denver, Broomfield, and Adams County courtrooms, handling cases ranging from traffic offenses through serious violent felonies. That experience translates directly to juvenile defense because the skills required are the same: reading the evidence carefully, identifying constitutional and procedural problems with how law enforcement conducted itself, and then advocating for the client in front of a judge who has heard every argument before.
What makes Reid’s approach genuinely different is his training at the Trial Lawyers College, founded by legendary trial lawyer Gerry Spence. The program’s emphasis on storytelling, psychodrama, and authentic human connection is particularly relevant in juvenile cases, where a young person’s full circumstances, family situation, school record, mental health history, and future prospects matter enormously to how a judge views the case. Reid does not reduce his juvenile clients to a charge sheet. He learns who they are and presents that full picture to the court.
Reid is a member of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and the Colorado Criminal Defense Bar, organizations that keep him current on evolving juvenile justice law, including changes to diversion programs, sentencing guidelines, and record sealing procedures in Colorado. Peer recognition from national attorney rating organizations reflects the quality of work he consistently brings to his cases. For families dealing with the uncertainty of a child’s arrest, that combination of trial experience, specialized training, and professional engagement matters in concrete ways.
What Aurora Families Should Do After a Juvenile Arrest
The first thing to understand is that your child has the right to remain silent and the right to an attorney before any questioning by law enforcement. Juveniles who speak to Aurora Police Department officers or Arapahoe County Sheriff’s deputies without an attorney present frequently provide information that is later used against them, even when they believe they are helping themselves. Exercising the right to remain silent is not an admission of guilt and should never be treated as one.
Contact an Aurora juvenile crimes attorney before your child makes any statement, before you sign any agreements with law enforcement or the DA’s office, and before any school disciplinary proceedings move forward. The juvenile case and the school case often run on parallel tracks, and decisions made in one setting can affect the other. Schools in the Aurora Public Schools district are required to report certain offenses to law enforcement, and school disciplinary records can be introduced in juvenile court proceedings.
Juvenile cases in Arapahoe County are heard at the Arapahoe County Justice Center located in Centennial. If the case involves incidents that occurred in the Adams County portion of Aurora, proceedings would instead be handled through the Adams County Courthouse in Brighton. Knowing which courthouse will handle the case, and who the assigned prosecutor and judge are, shapes the defense strategy from the earliest stages.
Gather documentation early. School records showing attendance, grades, and disciplinary history can work in your child’s favor when presented in the right context. Letters from teachers, coaches, counselors, or community members can support a mitigation case. If your child has received any mental health treatment or is on an IEP, those records are potentially relevant and should be preserved. An experienced Aurora juvenile defense attorney will tell you exactly what to collect and how to use it.
Avoid the common mistake of assuming that a first offense will automatically result in diversion or a light outcome. Colorado offers juvenile diversion programs that can resolve a case without an adjudication, but acceptance is not guaranteed and depends heavily on the nature of the charge, the child’s history, and how the case is presented. An attorney who negotiates effectively for diversion placement is doing real work that protects your child’s future in a direct and measurable way.
Questions Aurora Families Ask About Juvenile Cases
Will my child have a permanent criminal record if convicted?
Colorado’s juvenile justice system creates delinquency records rather than criminal convictions, which are handled separately from adult criminal records. However, these records exist, can affect school applications and certain employment situations, and may be visible to some agencies. Colorado law allows for record sealing in many juvenile cases after a waiting period and upon meeting certain conditions. Whether and when your child’s record can be sealed depends on the nature of the adjudication and subsequent conduct.
At what age can a juvenile be charged as an adult in Colorado?
Colorado allows direct filing in adult court for juveniles who are at least 16 years old and are charged with certain serious offenses, including class 1 or 2 felonies and other enumerated violent crimes. The district attorney makes this decision, and it can happen without a separate hearing in some cases. This is one of the most serious risks facing older juveniles charged with violent offenses, and it requires immediate defense attention.
Can my child go to jail after a juvenile court finding?
Juveniles adjudicated delinquent in Colorado can be committed to the Division of Youth Services, which operates secure juvenile correctional facilities. However, Colorado courts have a range of dispositional options including probation, community service, diversion programs, and treatment programs. The goal in most cases is the least restrictive intervention that addresses the offense and serves rehabilitation. Commitment to a secure facility is generally reserved for more serious or repeat offenses.
Does my child need to be present at all court dates?
Yes. Juvenile respondents are generally required to appear in person at court hearings. Missing a court date in an Arapahoe County juvenile case can result in a warrant for the juvenile’s arrest and will not reflect well on the case overall. Make sure you know every scheduled date and build in travel time to the Arapahoe County Justice Center in Centennial.
How long does a juvenile case in Aurora typically take to resolve?
The timeline varies considerably depending on the charge, whether the case goes to a contested hearing or resolves through a plea or diversion, and the court’s current docket. Misdemeanor matters handled through diversion can resolve within a few months. Contested felony cases may take significantly longer, with multiple hearings, discovery review, and potential evidentiary proceedings before a resolution is reached.
Can a juvenile offense affect college admissions or scholarship eligibility?
College applications frequently ask whether applicants have been adjudicated delinquent or convicted of any offense. Even a sealed juvenile record may need to be disclosed in some circumstances, including applications to certain military academies or federally regulated professions. The specifics depend on the question asked and the type of adjudication. This is one reason why fighting for dismissal, diversion, or the most limited possible outcome matters well beyond the immediate legal proceeding.
What happens if the victim is another student at the same Aurora school?
Cases involving school-based incidents present additional complications because school disciplinary proceedings run alongside criminal or juvenile court proceedings. Both Aurora Public Schools and Cherry Creek School District have their own codes of conduct and discipline processes, including suspension and expulsion hearings. An attorney can help coordinate the response to both proceedings and advise on how statements made in one setting might affect the other.
Can parents be held financially responsible for damages caused by their child?
Colorado’s parental liability laws allow civil claims against parents for damages caused by their minor children’s willful and malicious acts up to a statutory cap. A delinquency adjudication can inform a subsequent civil action, which is another reason why the outcome of the juvenile case carries financial consequences beyond the court disposition.
What is the difference between informal adjustment and formal diversion?
Colorado law allows juvenile cases to be resolved through an informal adjustment handled by a probation officer without formal court involvement, or through a diversion program coordinated by the DA’s office or a community organization. Both can result in a case being closed without an adjudication if the juvenile completes the required conditions. The availability of each option depends on the charge, the juvenile’s history, and the county’s current diversion practices. Aurora cases handled in Arapahoe County have access to specific diversion programs that an experienced attorney will know how to navigate.
If my child was questioned by police at school without me present, can those statements be suppressed?
This is a fact-specific question that depends on whether Miranda warnings were required and given, and whether the school resource officer or police officer’s conduct met constitutional standards. Colorado courts have addressed situations where juveniles were questioned in school settings, and there are circumstances where statements made under those conditions may be challengeable. This is exactly the kind of issue that a thorough case review will identify early.
Serving Aurora Families and Communities Throughout the Region
DeChant Law represents juvenile clients and their families throughout the Aurora area and the broader communities the city touches. This includes families from the Fitzsimons neighborhood and the Lowry area through Central Aurora and into the Tallyn’s Reach and Saddle Rock communities in eastern Aurora. We represent clients from the Aurora Hills, Meadowood, and Mission Viejo neighborhoods, as well as families from Centennial, Greenwood Village, and Englewood who have cases that fall within the Arapahoe County court system. For cases arising in the Adams County portions of Aurora, we serve families from the Gateway and Montbello adjacent communities as well.
Our representation also extends to families in Parker, Highlands Ranch, Lone Tree, and the Castle Rock area who may have juvenile cases filed in Arapahoe or Douglas County courts. Communities including Bennett, Aurora’s Buckley Air Force Base area, and the unincorporated Arapahoe County communities surrounding Aurora are also within our service footprint. Wherever in the Denver metro a family is dealing with a juvenile arrest, DeChant Law is positioned to help.
Talk to an Aurora Juvenile Defense Attorney at DeChant Law
Your child’s case will not improve by waiting. The decisions made in the first days after an arrest often determine whether a young person has access to diversion, whether evidence can be challenged, and whether the outcome reflects the full complexity of who your child actually is rather than just the charge on the complaint. DeChant Law is ready to put Reid DeChant’s trial experience, Trial Lawyers College training, and genuine commitment to each client’s story to work for your family. Call DeChant Law today to speak directly with an Aurora juvenile defense attorney about your child’s situation and what the next steps should be.
