If you are charged with any crime, hire a criminal defense attorney capable of helping you get your charges dropped or reduced. The statute of limitations in Colorado is the length of time charges for a crime can be filed against you for that offense. The statute of limitations differs based on the crime itself, and there are various circumstances that play a role in this process. Talk to a Lakewood criminal defense lawyer from Flesch & Beck Law today.
Not all crimes have a statute of limitations. In the state, the criminal statute of limitations is based on the classification of the offense.
Petty offenses are minor violations of the law. As a result, the statute of limitations is lower and generally does not last more than six months. This means that these types of criminal offenses must be filed within six months. Keep in mind that in cases of theft, the six-month timeframe does not start until the theft is discovered, not the date it was committed.
Misdemeanors are more serious crimes than petty crimes, but they are not as serious as felonies. The statute of limitations for most misdemeanor crimes in Colorado is 18 months. However, there are exceptions to this. For example, in a misdemeanor traffic offense, the timeframe is just 1 year. However, a misdemeanor of unlawful sexual contact with a child age 15 or older is 5 years, and for a child under the age of 18, it is 8.5 years.
Felonies are the most serious crimes. These crimes have longer penalties and outcomes in nearly all situations. Felony theft crimes and insurance fraud carry a 3-year statute of limitations. For vehicular homicide or a fatal hit-and-run accident, that jumps to 5 years, as it does for a commodity code violation. In situations of felony bribery, tax evasion, antitrust act violations, or other white-collar crimes, the statute of limitations is 6 years.
Other cases do not have a statute of limitations. That means you can be charged with them no matter how much time passes from the time the incident occurred through the discovery of the offense. There are numerous examples of these serious charges, including:
A person can be charged with these crimes no matter the length of time. That includes attempts of these crimes, conspiracy to commit the crime, or solicitation to commit the crime. In situations like this, it is critical to have a criminal defense attorney available to help you navigate your rights.
Various other factors impact when the statute of limitations is applicable. For example, there are some situations where the statute of limitations is tolled, which means it is on hold. That includes instances in which a defendant is out of state or hides their identity or, in some cases of injury to minors if it was not learned until the child was 18.
Criminal defense attorneys can help you learn what the statute of limitations is in your case. Reach out to one for a consultation to discuss what you could be charged with in Colorado.