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Posted By
Joseph A. Lazzara
Are you facing criminal charges in the Greater Denver Area? If so, it’s going to be very important for you to weigh your legal options. Will you challenge your charges? Will you accept a plea bargain? Or, will you waive your right to a jury trial and instead let a judge decide your fate? For the purposes of this post, I want to discuss waiving one’s right to a jury trial and the reasons behind ...
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Posted By
Joseph A. Lazzara
Are you facing driving under the influence (DUI) charges for the first time in Denver or anywhere else in Colorado? If so, you are going to have a number of questions and understandably so. For the purposes of this post, I’m going to explain the basics of a Colorado DUI and the penalties involved for a first DWAI and DUI offense. The State of Colorado prohibits people from driving under the ...
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Posted By
Joseph A. Lazzara
We all need a safe place to live, especially if we are raising a family. But not everyone can qualify for, or afford to buy a house, so a large percentage of the population rents or leases apartments and homes in lieu of getting a 30-year mortgage. If you are convicted of a crime, there are two major aspects of your life that a criminal record will affect: 1) employment, and 2) housing. For the ...
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Posted By
Joseph A. Lazzara
Across the nation, there are strict laws prohibiting convicted felons from possessing firearms until their civil rights are restored, and in some states a felon is banned from firearms for life. In Colorado, felon in possession of a firearm is covered under C.R.S. 18-12-108 and it is referred to as “possession of weapons by previous offenders.” Under Sec. 18-12-108(1), it reads: “A person commits ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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