-
Posted By
Joseph A. Lazzara
Are you a lawful permanent resident (Green Card holder) who is facing criminal charges for driving under the influence (DUI)? If so, you may be wondering, “If I’m convicted of DUI, can it trigger removal (deportation) proceedings?” This is a valid question indeed and the answer is, “It depends.” As a general rule, a first, second and even third DUI offense without aggravating factors is prosecuted ...
Continue Reading
-
Posted By
Joseph A. Lazzara
Drivers get pulled over every day for various reasons including speeding, running through a stop sign or a red light, having expired registration tags, passing a stopped school bus, or simply having a broken taillight. Another reason for traffic stops is driving under the influence (DUI) – if an officer suspects that someone is driving under the influence of alcohol, illegal drugs , or even ...
Continue Reading
-
Posted By
Joseph A. Lazzara
The term “ domestic violence ” generally refers to violence and threats of violence between family and household members. It frequently relates to violence between spouses (spousal abuse), parents and children (child abuse), and other relatives. In Colorado, if someone is a victim of domestic violence, they can ask the court for a restraining order, also known as a domestic violence restraining ...
Continue Reading
-
Posted By
Joseph A. Lazzara
If you’re facing criminal charges, you may want to look into adult diversion, which is a voluntary alternative to a traditional criminal prosecution. Unlike similar diversion programs in other states, defendants are not required to plead guilty to their charges. Instead, the accused is given the opportunity to receive treatment and make financial restitution to any victims of their crimes. Under ...
Continue Reading
-
Posted By
Joseph A. Lazzara
For the average Denver resident, it can be difficult to fully understand a Colorado DUI. Compared to some states, Colorado does not have loads of easy-to-find information about drunk and drugged driving on the internet. For this reason, I decided to dedicate a post to frequently asked questions about driving under the influence in Colorado. If after reading this list of FAQs, you have further ...
Continue Reading
-
Posted By
Joseph A. Lazzara
If you’re like most Colorado drivers, you’re well-aware of the fact that your driver’s license can be suspended for drunk driving or getting too many speeding tickets. What you may not realize is that’s only the beginning – there are many other circumstances where a person’s driver’s license can be suspended or revoked in Colorado. As a criminal defense attorney, my clients are faced with license ...
Continue Reading
-
Posted By
Joseph A. Lazzara
If you were recently arrested for a criminal offense in the Greater Denver Area, or if you’re the target of a criminal investigation, you probably have a lot of questions. “What could happen to me if I am formally charged? What are the possible outcomes of a criminal case?” Criminal cases are separated into misdemeanors and felonies, with felonies being the more serious of the two. Since criminal ...
Continue Reading
-
Posted By
Joseph A. Lazzara
Are you facing driving under the influence charges in Denver or anywhere in Arapahoe County? If so, it’s important that you not only learn the penalties for a first DUI , but that you understand the other ways a DUI can affect you. For starters, the standard penalties for a first DUI in Colorado, include: 12 points against your driver’s license, up to a one-year license revocation, between $800 ...
Continue Reading
-
Posted By
Joseph A. Lazzara
Are you being accused of sexual assault in Denver or anywhere in Arapahoe County? If so, it’s important that you understand the seriousness of these accusations. Under Section 18-3-402 of the Colorado Revised Statutes, a person commits the offense of sexual assault if he or she “knowingly inflicts sexual intrusion or sexual penetration on a victim” and: The actor caused the victim to submit ...
Continue Reading
-
Posted By
Joseph A. Lazzara
Are you accused of committing domestic violence in the Greater Denver Area or anywhere else in Colorado? If so, it’s important that you understand what you’re up against, especially if you were arrested by the police who came to your house on a 911 call. To shed light on the subject, I’m going to discuss 5 facts about domestic violence that you should know: 1. Domestic violence isn’t only physical ...
Continue Reading
-
Posted By
Joseph A. Lazzara
If you were recently arrested for a crime in Denver, Greenwood Village, or anywhere in Arapahoe County and your criminal case is progressing through the courts, you’ll probably want to know, “Will my case go to trial?” This is a good question! The answer to this question depends on what you decide to do. Will you plead guilty? Will you try to negotiate a plea bargain? Or, will you fight your ...
Continue Reading
-
Posted By
Joseph A. Lazzara
On Friday, Oct. 14, 2011, the 18th Judicial District adopted a drug court program that served the citizens of Arapahoe and Douglas counties. The program was named, “Recovery Court.” Here is what Arapahoe County Magistrate Bonnie McLean had to say about the program, “As a group, we are keenly aware of the enormous toll, both financial and otherwise, that substance abuse takes on the criminal ...
Continue Reading
-
Posted By
Joseph A. Lazzara
If you were recently arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence (DUI) of drugs or alcohol in Denver, or anywhere else in Colorado, you probably have a lot of questions. Will your driver’s license be suspended? Will you have to go to jail? How much will the fines be? How long will the DUI be reported on your criminal record? In order to shed light on the penalties for DUI, I’m going to ...
Continue Reading
-
Posted By
Joseph A. Lazzara
Were you recently arrested for a crime in Arapahoe County? If so, you probably have a lot of questions, especially about probation. Will you go to jail? Can you get probation instead of jail time? How do people criminal defendants get probation? What happens if you violate a term or conditions of your probation, will you go to jail? Continue reading as I explain probation in further detail and the ...
Continue Reading
-
Posted By
Joseph A. Lazzara
Has someone taken out a restraining order against you in the Greater Denver Area for domestic violence ? If so, it’s important that you know that the restraining order is not only enforceable statewide, but nationwide. Obtaining a restraining order in Colorado is a two-step process: 1) the alleged victim must obtain a temporary restraining order (TRO), which lasts 14 days, and 2) the victim must ...
Continue Reading