The phrase weapons charges encompass many criminal violations, including assault with a deadly weapon, possession of a weapon by a previous offender (POWPO), charges involving concealed weapons, and even some drug crimes where a weapon may have been involved or even merely present.
If a gun or other weapon was involved in the case, the consequences of the crime are increased dramatically. One example is Colorado’s Special Offender law, which provides that when a drug offense is committed and a deadly weapon also is present on the defendant’s person or within his immediate reach during the commission of said drug offense, or when the defendant or his confederate possess a firearm either to which they had access to that firearm in a manner posing a risk to others or simply is present in a vehicle during the commission of a drug offense, then special offender charges can be brought against said defendant. Special offender charges constitute a class 2 felony, and thus are a very serious matter.
Even if a crime is not being committed, possession of a deadly weapon by a prior offender also is a very serious offense. A person commits the crime of POWPO when they knowingly use, possess, or carry upon his or her person a firearm, subsequent to their conviction for a felony, in any state, including Colorado. These charges are serious and can be brought alongside charges such as robbery or drug charges. One possible defense to a POWPO charge is possession of a firearm at the defendant’s home for purposes of self-defense.
If your partner called the police during an argument and now wants the case dropped, you may assume the two of you can simply explain that to the court and move on. In Colorado, domestic violence cases do not work that way. Once police make an arrest or prosecutors file charges, the case belongs to the state, not the person who made the original report.
When someone is charged with a crime in Colorado, one of the first questions that matters is whether the offense is a felony or a misdemeanor. The difference affects where the case is handled, the possible jail or prison sentence, the amount of fines, and the long-term consequences of a conviction.
In general, misdemeanors are less serious offenses that are usually punishable by county jail time, probation, fines, or other
A bail or bond hearing in Colorado is one of the first major court appearances after a criminal arrest. It determines whether a person will remain in custody while their case moves forward or be released under specific conditions. Although it happens early in the process, the decisions made at this stage can influence the entire direction of the case.
In most situations, this hearing occurs within hours or days
