If you’ve been arrested for alleged theft or robbery in Lakewood, Colorado, you need a skilled and experienced defense lawyer by your side. Flesch Law is passionate about defending the rights of those accused of crimes throughout Colorado. He will explain your legal options clearly, guide you through the legal process and keep you updated about your case every step of the way. Discuss how our Lakewood theft and robbery attorneys can protect your future today.
Lakewood, CO Theft & Robbery Legal Resources:
A theft or robbery conviction can change your life. You may have to spend time in jail, lose your job, lose child custody and face many other repercussions. If you hire a Lakewood criminal defense attorney, you give yourself the best odds of achieving a positive resolution for your case. Your Lakewood theft and robbery lawyer will know aggressive legal tactics and have connections to local prosecutors to help build your defense.
At Flesch Law, our attorneys have more than thirty years of legal experience assisting individuals in need of criminal defense services. Our firm understands how complex and impactful these cases can have on a defendant and the penalties associated with a criminal defense case. We offer free consultations to those that are facing theft and robbery charges in Lakewood, CO.
Theft is defined in Colorado Revised Statutes 18-4-401 as knowingly obtaining, retaining or controlling anything of value that belongs to someone else without the owner’s authorization or by threat or deception. Robbery ( C.R.S. 18-4-301) is similar to theft in that it also means to knowingly take something of value from another person; however, robbery is taking the item through threat, force or intimidation.
Theft is a broad term in Colorado law that can refer to many different types of crimes that involve taking someone else’s property without permission. They include:
Depending on the value of the allegedly stolen property, a theft crime in Colorado can range from a petty offense to a class 2 felony. The level and type of the charge assessed for a theft crime generally depends on the value of the item stolen.
Theft is a class 1 petty offense if the item’s value is less than $50. The class of offense increases with the value of the stolen item, all the way to a class 2 felony if the item is valued at $1 million or more.
Robbery is a class 4 felony in Colorado. Aggravated robbery, or robbery using a deadly weapon, is a class 3 felony.
The penalties for theft and robbery in Colorado are serious. They can include months or years in prison (up to 48 years for aggravated robbery involving controlled substances), a mandatory minimum jail sentence, thousands of dollars in fines, restitution for the victim, probation, and community service hours. Below is a breakdown of the penalties you could be facing for theft in Colorado, depending on the charges:
For robbery, the charge is generally a class 4 felony, which is punishable by up to 6 years in jail or prison and up to $500,000 in fines. If the victim was an at-risk elder or a disabled person, there is mandatory prison time of at least 4 years. If you are convicted of aggravated robbery, such as robbery with a deadly weapon or involving injury to others, you could face a sentence of 32 to 48 years in jail and up to $750,000 in fines.
We don’t list the potential penalties of theft and robbery here to scare you. Instead, we want you to know what is at stake so that you make the right decision – protecting yourself and your future by hiring a lawyer. Our criminal defense attorneys will do whatever is possible to protect you from the most severe consequences of a theft or robbery charge in Lakewood. With our assistance, you may be able to avoid or minimize the penalties you face and the effect of a criminal charge on the rest of your life.
Just because you have been arrested or accused of a theft or robbery crime in Lakewood does not mean that you will be convicted. To convict a defendant of theft or robbery in Colorado, the prosecutor must prove certain elements as true beyond a reasonable doubt:
“Beyond a reasonable doubt” is the highest evidentiary standard in the justice system. This means that the prosecution must have enough evidence against you to convince a jury that the only reasonable explanation that can come from the evidence presented is that you committed the crime being accused. This burden of proof is much higher than in the civil justice system, which is a “preponderance of the evidence,” or certainty of at least 51 percent.
A criminal defense lawyer in Lakewood can take apart the prosecutor’s case against you to establish reasonable doubt. If there is insufficient evidence to prove that you committed theft or robbery, this could lead to the courts dropping the charges or reducing the penalties against you.
An attorney from Flesch Law can analyze your unique case to build the best possible defense strategy according to the circumstances. Some possible defense options for a theft or robbery charge include:
Your lawyer will choose the strategy that is the most suitable for your case. If this is not a not-guilty defense, your lawyer can work to negotiate a plea deal to help you avoid the most serious charges and penalties for theft or robbery. A lawyer can help you protect your future as much as possible.
If you are being charged with theft or robbery in Lakewood, or your child is being charged with juvenile theft, don’t hesitate to contact Flesch Law for a free consultation. We have been defending clients for more than 30+ years. Find out how we can help you today. Call (303) 980-5511 or contact us online anytime.