Arapahoe County Criminal Defense Lawyer
Arapahoe County prosecutes criminal cases with real resources and experienced prosecutors. The decisions you make in the first hours and days after an arrest shape what options exist later. Having an Arapahoe County criminal defense lawyer who has handled cases in Colorado courts, understands how local prosecutors build their charges, and is willing to take a case to trial makes a measurable difference in outcomes. Reid DeChant brings that background to every client he represents.
How Arapahoe County Criminal Cases Actually Move Through the Courts
Criminal cases in Arapahoe County are filed in the 18th Judicial District, which is headquartered in Centennial. The 18th Judicial District covers Arapahoe, Douglas, Elbert, and Lincoln Counties, and it handles a substantial volume of felony and misdemeanor cases each year. Understanding how that court operates matters.
After an arrest, there is a bond hearing, then a formal advisement, followed by preliminary hearings in felony cases and pretrial conferences in misdemeanor matters. Each of those appearances is a decision point, not just a formality. Waiving a preliminary hearing, accepting a deferred sentence, or agreeing to a plea before discovery is complete can close off options that might otherwise exist.
Reid has handled cases in Arapahoe County as well as Adams, Broomfield, Denver, Jefferson, and Douglas Counties. That range of court experience means the procedural norms in Centennial are not unfamiliar territory. He knows how the 18th Judicial District functions and what judges and prosecutors in that courthouse expect.
What Gets Charged in Arapahoe County and Why Some Cases Are Harder to Defend Than Others
Arapahoe County encompasses Aurora, Englewood, Littleton, Centennial, Greenwood Village, and several other communities along the southeastern edge of the Denver metro. The nature of criminal charges in this area reflects that geography. Aurora sees a high volume of DUI stops along Colfax Avenue, East Iliff, and the corridors near Denver International Airport. Domestic violence charges are common in this county, and they carry mandatory arrest policies and automatic protection orders that complicate both the criminal case and family circumstances.
Drug possession and distribution charges come up frequently near Aurora’s commercial corridors. Theft and robbery cases often originate around retail centers in Centennial and along Arapahoe Road. Assault charges, including those stemming from bar incidents near the Aurora entertainment districts, can escalate quickly depending on whether a weapon was involved or whether the alleged victim suffered serious bodily injury.
What makes some of these cases harder is not always the underlying facts. It is the evidence that law enforcement collected and how it was collected. Dash cam and body cam footage, witness statements taken hours after an incident, field sobriety tests conducted on uneven pavement near a busy road, blood draws administered outside the two-hour window required under Colorado law, these are the details that matter. Reid reviews everything before advising a client on what a case is actually worth and what options exist to fight it.
DUI Charges in Arapahoe County Involve Two Separate Fights
A DUI arrest in Arapahoe County triggers both a criminal case in the 18th Judicial District and a separate DMV Express Consent hearing that can result in license revocation independent of what happens in court. Missing the deadline to request a DMV hearing means the revocation proceeds automatically. Most people do not realize the DMV action and the criminal case are entirely separate, with different rules of evidence, different timelines, and different outcomes.
Reid has secured dismissals in multiple DMV Express Consent hearings, including cases dismissed for improper advisements, failure to administer the chemical test within two hours of driving, and Miranda-related issues. Those results appear on the DeChant Law case results page. None of them happened by accident. They happened because the Express Consent statute imposes specific obligations on law enforcement, and when those obligations are not met, the hearing officer has grounds to dismiss.
On the criminal side, DUI charges in Arapahoe County range from a first offense misdemeanor to a class 4 felony for a fourth or subsequent offense. The stakes increase significantly when there was an accident involved, when a minor was in the vehicle, or when a commercial driver’s license is at risk. Each of those circumstances changes the exposure and the strategy.
Domestic Violence Cases in Arapahoe County: The Charges That Follow You
Colorado’s domestic violence statutes apply to any crime against a person when the victim is or was in an intimate relationship with the defendant. That definition is broader than most people expect. It covers harassment, criminal mischief, menacing, and strangulation, not just assault. A domestic violence designation attached to any of those charges triggers mandatory protection orders, potential firearm restrictions under federal law, and consequences that affect immigration status, professional licenses, and housing applications.
Prosecutors in Arapahoe County, like those across the 18th Judicial District, often proceed on domestic violence cases even when the alleged victim does not want to cooperate. The state, not the victim, decides whether to prosecute. That dynamic means the defense cannot rely on the victim refusing to participate. Reid has taken domestic violence cases to trial and secured not guilty verdicts and dismissals at trial, as reflected in the firm’s case results.
The decisions in these cases happen fast. Protection orders issue at the first court appearance. Violations of those orders carry separate criminal charges. A defendant’s ability to return home, see their children, and keep a job can all turn on what happens in the first 48 hours after an arrest.
What People Who’ve Been Charged in Arapahoe County Want to Know
Can a case in Arapahoe County be dismissed before trial?
Yes. Cases get dismissed at multiple points in the process, including at preliminary hearing, on pretrial motions, or when the prosecution determines the evidence will not support a conviction. How strong that possibility is depends entirely on the specific facts, the charges, and whether there are legal grounds to challenge the stop, the search, the arrest, or the evidence collected.
What is the difference between a DUI and a DWAI in Colorado?
A DUI requires a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08% or higher, or impairment to a substantial degree. A DWAI applies at a BAC between 0.05% and 0.079%, or when a driver’s ability to operate safely is affected to any degree. DWAI carries lighter penalties than DUI for a first offense, but it still results in a conviction on your record and points on your license.
Does the victim dropping charges mean a domestic violence case goes away?
Not necessarily. The Arapahoe County District Attorney’s office can proceed without the victim’s cooperation. Prosecutors may use prior statements, 911 recordings, photographs of injuries, or other evidence to build the case. A victim who later recants or refuses to testify creates challenges for the prosecution, but it does not automatically result in dismissal.
How does a criminal conviction in Arapahoe County affect a professional license?
Many licensing boards in Colorado have independent authority to discipline or revoke a license based on a criminal conviction, separate from any sentence imposed by the court. This applies to medical professionals, nurses, teachers, contractors, financial professionals, and others. The charge matters, but so does how the case is resolved. Deferred judgments and certain plea structures may carry different implications than an outright conviction.
What happens at a preliminary hearing in a felony case?
A preliminary hearing is a proceeding where the prosecution must show probable cause that a crime was committed and that the defendant committed it. The evidentiary standard is lower than at trial, but the hearing gives defense counsel an opportunity to cross-examine witnesses under oath and lock in testimony before trial preparation is complete. Waiving a preliminary hearing gives up that opportunity.
Can past arrests in Colorado be sealed even if I was convicted?
Colorado law allows sealing of certain convictions, not just arrests and dismissed charges. Eligibility depends on the offense class, how much time has passed since completing the sentence, and whether any new charges have been filed. Sealing a record removes it from most background check systems. Reid can evaluate whether a past case in Arapahoe County or elsewhere qualifies.
Does it matter if I was stopped in Aurora versus Centennial for a DUI?
Both cases end up in the 18th Judicial District. But the arresting agency matters. Aurora Police Department, Arapahoe County Sheriff, and Centennial’s contracted law enforcement all have different procedures and training records. Those differences can be relevant when examining whether proper protocols were followed during a traffic stop or DUI investigation.
Talk to Reid DeChant About Your Arapahoe County Charges
At DeChant Law, every case gets Reid’s attention directly, not a paralegal and not a hand-off after the retainer is signed. If you are facing charges in the 18th Judicial District and need an Arapahoe County criminal defense attorney who has stood in front of Colorado juries, argued pretrial motions, and taken on the prosecution rather than accepting whatever offer was first extended, reach out to set up a consultation and talk through where the case actually stands.