Aurora Sex Crimes Lawyer
Sex crime allegations carry consequences that reach far beyond the courtroom. A single charge can cost someone their job, their home, their family relationships, and their standing in the community before a single day of trial has passed. In Aurora, where cases are prosecuted through the 18th Judicial District, the local district attorney’s office has consistently treated sex crime cases as high-priority prosecutions, often assigning experienced prosecutors with substantial resources to build the government’s case. For anyone facing these charges, the gap between a well-prepared defense and an underprepared one is the difference between a life destroyed and a life rebuilt. An Aurora sex crimes lawyer who genuinely understands how these cases are built, challenged, and resolved is not a luxury. It is the only rational choice.
What makes sex crime defense especially demanding is the nature of the evidence involved. These cases rarely turn on physical evidence alone. They involve witness credibility assessments, forensic psychology, digital records, medical examinations, and investigative reports that require scrutiny at every level. Law enforcement in Aurora and the surrounding Arapahoe County jurisdictions often begins investigating before any arrest is made, sometimes conducting recorded pretext calls or surveillance that can be used at trial if not properly challenged. Understanding what the prosecution has, how it was gathered, and what it cannot prove is where a defense is built.
Reid DeChant has defended clients facing some of the most serious criminal allegations brought in Colorado courts. His background as a former public defender gave him direct experience with the full spectrum of criminal charges, and his training at the Trial Lawyers College, the program founded by Gerry Spence, shaped an approach to defense that centers on telling the client’s story honestly and powerfully to judges and juries. At DeChant Law, clients facing sex crime charges in Aurora are treated as people whose entire futures depend on the quality of their representation, because that is exactly the reality.
Sex Crime Charges Prosecuted in Aurora and Arapahoe County Courts
- Sexual Assault: Colorado’s sexual assault statute encompasses a broad range of conduct and is one of the most seriously prosecuted charges in the 18th Judicial District. Cases often hinge on consent disputes, credibility of witnesses, and the circumstances under which the alleged incident occurred.
- Sexual Assault on a Child: Allegations involving a minor trigger mandatory reporting requirements, intensive law enforcement involvement, and mandatory sex offender registration upon conviction. Prosecutors frequently rely on forensic interviews conducted at child advocacy centers, which must be carefully analyzed for suggestive questioning techniques.
- Unlawful Sexual Contact: These charges may be filed as misdemeanors or felonies depending on the alleged circumstances, including whether force or incapacitation was involved. Even a misdemeanor conviction requires sex offender registration in Colorado.
- Internet Sex Crimes and Enticement: Law enforcement agencies in Aurora and the Denver metro area conduct undercover sting operations targeting individuals suspected of soliciting minors online. These operations generate digital evidence that requires forensic analysis, and the circumstances of how contact was initiated matter significantly to the defense.
- Possession or Distribution of Illegal Images: Federal and state investigators often work together on these cases. The chain of custody for digital evidence, how devices were searched, and whether proper warrants were obtained are all critical issues that an Aurora sex crimes attorney must examine.
- Failure to Register as a Sex Offender: Colorado imposes specific registration requirements on individuals with prior convictions. Reid DeChant has a documented not-guilty verdict in a failure-to-register case, reflecting the kind of detailed statutory and procedural analysis these charges require.
- False Allegations in Domestic or Custody Disputes: In contentious separations or custody battles, sex crime allegations sometimes arise in circumstances where motivations are complex. These cases demand thorough investigation of the relationship history, communications between parties, and the sequence of events surrounding when the allegation was first made.
Why DeChant Law Handles Aurora Sex Crime Defense Differently
Reid DeChant’s background is directly relevant to anyone facing sex crime charges in Aurora. As a former public defender, Reid appeared in courtrooms across Denver, Broomfield, and Adams County on cases ranging from DUI and assault to felony sexual offenses and homicide. That kind of volume means he has cross-examined law enforcement officers, challenged forensic evidence, and argued before juries on matters with life-altering stakes, all before transitioning to private practice. Most private attorneys in Colorado never accumulate that depth of trial experience.
His training at the Trial Lawyers College is particularly significant in sex crime cases. These prosecutions are not won or lost on legal technicalities alone. Juries arrive with assumptions, fears, and biases that must be identified and honestly confronted during voir dire. Reid’s training in psychodrama and authentic narrative advocacy equips him to engage jurors as human beings rather than reciting legal standards at them. In a case where the facts are disputed and credibility is everything, that difference in approach is material.
DeChant Law’s documented case results include a not-guilty verdict in a failure-to-register as a sex offender case and a not-guilty verdict in a strangulation case involving domestic violence, along with numerous dismissals and acquittals across a wide range of serious felony charges. These outcomes reflect a defense practice built around genuine preparation, not plea-negotiation by default. Reid is a member of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and the Colorado Criminal Defense Bar, which connects him to the most current defense strategies being developed nationally on sex crime cases.
Every client at DeChant Law participates in their own defense. Reid communicates clearly and consistently, explaining the evidence, the options, and the risks at every stage. Clients are not left waiting for updates or confused about where their case stands. That transparency is fundamental to how the firm operates, not a marketing claim.
What Happens After an Arrest or Investigation for Sex Crimes in Aurora
The process begins differently than most people expect. In many Aurora sex crime cases, an arrest does not happen immediately. Detectives with the Aurora Police Department’s crimes against persons unit may spend weeks or months gathering evidence, conducting interviews, and sometimes arranging pretext phone calls before making an arrest or referring the case to the Arapahoe County District Attorney’s Office for charging. If you are aware that you are being investigated, retaining a sex crimes attorney in Aurora before charges are filed is one of the most important steps you can take. An attorney can communicate with investigators on your behalf, advise you on what not to say or do, and potentially influence how the case develops before a formal charge is ever filed.
Once charges are filed, they move through the 18th Judicial District Court, located at the Arapahoe County Justice Center at 7325 South Potomac Street in Centennial. This courthouse handles felony cases from Aurora and the surrounding Arapahoe County communities. First appearances and bond hearings typically occur within 48 hours of arrest, and the decisions made at that bond hearing, including conditions of release, no-contact orders, and electronic monitoring requirements, can significantly affect a defendant’s ability to maintain employment and family relationships while the case proceeds.
Preliminary hearings in felony sex crime cases require the prosecution to present evidence sufficient to establish probable cause. This is an early opportunity for defense counsel to test the government’s evidence, cross-examine investigators, and build a record that may be used later at trial. Many defense attorneys waive this hearing without fully appreciating its strategic value. Reid DeChant evaluates each case individually and makes no assumptions about which procedural tools to deploy.
A critical mistake many defendants make is speaking to law enforcement without an attorney present. Investigators are trained in interrogation techniques that can produce statements used to corroborate the prosecution’s theory even when those statements appear innocent or explanatory at the time. If you have been contacted by Aurora police or Arapahoe County investigators about a sex crime allegation, the single most effective action you can take immediately is to stop communicating with them and call a defense attorney. This is not guilt; this is how the legal system actually works, and investigators understand that.
Document preservation matters as well. Communications, social media records, location data, and any other digital evidence that may be relevant to the allegations should be preserved and provided to your attorney. Courts can sanction parties who allow relevant evidence to be destroyed, and your own records may contain exculpatory information that contradicts the prosecution’s version of events.
Sex Offender Registration and Long-Term Consequences of a Conviction in Colorado
Colorado requires sex offender registration for a wide range of convictions, including some that are classified as misdemeanors. Registration requirements include reporting to local law enforcement, providing current address and employment information, and periodic check-ins that vary by offense level. The registry is public, meaning that information is accessible to employers, landlords, and neighbors in ways that profoundly affect daily life long after any sentence is completed.
Beyond registration, a sex crime conviction in Colorado can affect professional licensing. Healthcare providers, teachers, attorneys, and others who hold state-issued licenses face separate administrative proceedings that can result in license revocation or suspension based on a criminal conviction. Federal employment, security clearance eligibility, and public housing access are also affected. For non-citizens, a sex crime conviction can trigger deportation proceedings and permanent bars to re-entry or naturalization.
Colorado has a Sex Offender Management Board that oversees treatment programs for convicted sex offenders. Sentencing in sex crime cases often includes mandatory participation in treatment, and indeterminate sentencing for certain offenses means a defendant may remain under court supervision for far longer than the stated sentence range suggests. Understanding these collateral consequences before resolving a case is essential, which is why thorough legal counsel from an Aurora sex crimes attorney matters at every stage, including plea negotiations, not just at trial.
Questions About Aurora Sex Crime Charges Answered Directly
What should I do if I learn I am under investigation for a sex crime but have not been arrested yet?
Retain an attorney immediately. The period before formal charges are filed is often when the most important work happens. An attorney can advise you on what communications to avoid, what records to preserve, and in some cases, can engage with investigators or prosecutors in ways that affect whether charges are filed at all or what those charges look like. Do not speak to investigators, contact the alleged victim, or post anything on social media about the situation.
How does Colorado handle sex crime cases where there is no physical evidence?
Many sex crime prosecutions in Colorado proceed without DNA or physical evidence. The government relies heavily on witness testimony, prior statements made to investigators or family members, and forensic interview recordings. The defense must scrutinize the credibility of those witnesses, the circumstances under which initial disclosures were made, and whether accounts have been consistent over time. Cases without physical evidence are not automatically weak for the prosecution, but they do create specific lines of challenge that a prepared defense attorney can pursue.
Can sex crime charges be dismissed before trial in Aurora?
Yes. Dismissals occur for a variety of reasons including Fourth Amendment violations in how evidence was gathered, witness unavailability, recantation, and prosecutorial determinations that the evidence does not support the charge. Reid DeChant has secured case dismissals and not-guilty verdicts across a range of serious felony charges. Whether a dismissal is achievable depends entirely on the specific facts and evidence in the case.
What is the difference between sexual assault and unlawful sexual contact in Colorado?
Colorado law defines these as separate offenses based on the nature of the alleged contact and the circumstances involved. Sexual assault generally involves allegations of penetration, while unlawful sexual contact covers a broader range of non-consensual touching. Both carry significant penalties and both require sex offender registration upon conviction. The specific charge filed affects sentencing exposure, which is why the initial charging decision matters and why those decisions can sometimes be challenged or negotiated at early stages of the case.
Will I have to register as a sex offender if convicted of a misdemeanor sex crime in Colorado?
Yes, in many circumstances. Colorado’s sex offender registration requirements extend to certain misdemeanor convictions, not just felonies. The specific registration requirements, including duration and reporting frequency, depend on the offense and classification. This is one of the most significant reasons to contest even a misdemeanor sex crime charge rather than treating it as minor.
How do pretext phone calls work in Aurora sex crime investigations, and can they be challenged?
A pretext call is a recorded phone call made by the alleged victim or another person at the direction of law enforcement, typically designed to elicit incriminating statements from the suspect. Aurora investigators use these regularly in sex crime cases. In Colorado, one-party consent is sufficient to legally record a call, so the legality of the recording itself is generally not a viable challenge. However, the content of what was said, the context in which statements were made, and whether statements were taken out of context are all subject to challenge. An experienced Aurora sex crime defense attorney will obtain and analyze the recording carefully.
What happens at the first court appearance for a sex crime charge in Arapahoe County?
The first appearance is typically a bond hearing at the Arapahoe County Justice Center in Centennial. The court determines conditions of release, which in sex crime cases often include no-contact orders, electronic monitoring, and restrictions on computer use or contact with minors. The defense can argue for reasonable conditions based on the defendant’s ties to the community, employment, family situation, and the specific allegations. Conditions set at this early hearing can remain in place for months or even years while the case proceeds, so advocacy at the bond stage matters considerably.
Can an alleged victim recanting their statement cause a sex crime case to be dismissed in Colorado?
Not automatically. Prosecutors in Colorado have discretion to proceed with a case even when a victim recants. This is particularly common in cases that were initially classified as domestic violence-related. The prosecution may argue that the recantation itself resulted from pressure or fear, and may attempt to use the original statement as evidence. However, a credible recantation can significantly weaken the government’s case and increase the likelihood of dismissal or acquittal. The circumstances and credibility of the recantation matter greatly to how it affects the case.
How does an indeterminate sentence work for sex crimes in Colorado?
Certain Colorado sex crime convictions carry indeterminate sentencing, meaning the sentence is expressed as a range rather than a fixed term. A defendant sentenced indeterminately remains under supervision until the Sex Offender Management Board determines that they no longer pose a risk, which may extend well beyond the minimum sentence. This can result in a person serving substantially more time under court supervision than a fixed sentence would suggest. Understanding this before resolving a case through a plea is essential, and it underscores the importance of a thorough review of every option.
Is it possible to have a sex crime conviction expunged or sealed in Colorado?
Colorado’s record sealing laws have specific carve-outs for sex offenses. Many sex crime convictions are not eligible for sealing under current law, which means the record remains accessible and registration obligations continue. There are limited circumstances in which records related to charges that were dismissed or resulted in acquittal may be sealed, but a conviction for most sex offenses remains part of the permanent public record. This reality is another reason why the defense of the original charge, not the post-conviction options, is where the work matters most.
DeChant Law Represents Clients Facing Sex Crime Charges Across the Aurora Area and Beyond
DeChant Law represents clients throughout the communities that make up Aurora and the broader Arapahoe County and Adams County areas, including the Saddle Rock, Tallyn’s Reach, Southlands, and Murphy Creek neighborhoods in eastern Aurora, as well as the Lowry, Stapleton, and Montbello communities in the western portions of Aurora near the Denver border. The firm also represents clients from Centennial, Greenwood Village, Englewood, Cherry Hills Village, Littleton, Parker, Highlands Ranch, Lone Tree, and Castle Rock. In Adams County, clients from Commerce City, Thornton, Brighton, Westminster, and Northglenn are served as well. Cases arising in Jefferson County courts, including those from Lakewood, Arvada, and Wheat Ridge, are within the firm’s practice area, as are matters in Broomfield County and Douglas County. Whether the case originates in Aurora, moves through the Arapahoe County Justice Center in Centennial, or involves overlapping federal jurisdiction, DeChant Law has the courtroom experience and local knowledge to provide a thorough defense.
Aurora Sex Crimes Attorney Ready to Discuss Your Case
The earlier a defense attorney becomes involved in a sex crime case, the more options exist for the person facing the allegation. Waiting to see what happens, hoping the situation resolves on its own, or speaking further with investigators without counsel are choices that consistently work against the accused. If you or someone you know is facing an investigation or formal charges for a sex crime in Aurora or anywhere in the surrounding region, contact DeChant Law directly and speak with an Aurora sex crimes attorney who will give the case the attention, preparation, and courtroom advocacy it requires.
