Arvada Felony Lawyer
A felony charge in Arvada carries consequences that reach far beyond any single court date. Convictions can mean years in state prison, mandatory parole, loss of professional licenses, restrictions on where you can live, and a permanent record that follows every background check. Reid DeChant, an Arvada felony lawyer at DeChant Law, has handled serious charges from first appearance through jury verdict, including cases that other attorneys might consider unwinnable. His background as a public defender, where he defended everything from theft offenses to homicides, shapes how he approaches every felony case: with genuine investment in the person, not just the charge on paper.
What Colorado’s Felony Classes Actually Mean for Arvada Defendants
Colorado divides felonies into six classes, F1 through F6, along with a separate category for drug felonies. The class assigned to your charge is the starting point for the sentencing range a judge can impose, but it is only the starting point. Aggravating factors, prior criminal history, the use of a weapon, whether the offense is designated as a crime of violence, and dozens of other statutory factors can push a sentence well above the presumptive range.
Class 1 and Class 2 felonies, such as first-degree murder and certain sexual assault offenses, carry potential sentences that can run decades. Class 4 felonies, which include a wide range of assault charges and some drug distribution offenses, carry a presumptive range of two to six years in the Department of Corrections, though probation is sometimes available. Class 6 felonies sit at the lower end but still carry the possibility of prison time and the lifetime label of convicted felon.
Jefferson County, which handles felony cases arising in Arvada, prosecutes these matters in the Jefferson County District Court in Golden. Understanding how that court operates, how the DA’s office there makes charging decisions, and how specific judges approach sentencing matters. Reid has practiced in Jefferson County and is familiar with the local prosecution dynamics that a generic legal overview will not capture.
How Felony Cases Move Through Jefferson County District Court
Felony cases in Colorado follow a defined path, and the decisions made at each stage have real consequences for how the case ultimately resolves. After an arrest, the defendant appears for a first advisement, where formal charges are entered and bond is set. In serious felony cases, bond hearings can be contested, and the arguments made there affect whether a client spends weeks or months in custody while the case develops.
A preliminary hearing, or the option to waive it in exchange for other concessions, is one of the first strategic decision points. At a preliminary hearing, the prosecution must demonstrate probable cause that a crime occurred and that the defendant committed it. That is a low bar, but it is also an opportunity to test witnesses under oath, preserve testimony, and develop an understanding of where the government’s case is strong or weak.
From there, the case proceeds through discovery, motions practice, and often a disposition conference before trial. The motions phase is where significant legal work happens: suppression motions targeting unlawful searches, challenges to eyewitness identification procedures, motions to exclude evidence that was obtained in violation of constitutional rights. Many felony cases are resolved by plea, but the terms of any plea agreement are directly shaped by how much pressure the defense has built through litigation. A case that has survived a suppression motion, had witnesses cross-examined, and demonstrated credible trial readiness negotiates from a fundamentally different position than one that has not.
Categories of Felony Charges That Appear Regularly in Arvada
Arvada’s growth as a community, its proximity to Denver, and its location along major corridors like Wadsworth Boulevard and Interstate 70 shape the kinds of felony cases that arise here. Drug trafficking and distribution charges appear frequently, particularly involving fentanyl and methamphetamine, and Colorado prosecutors have taken an increasingly aggressive posture on distribution cases given the state’s overdose statistics. Felony assault charges, including second and first-degree assault involving serious bodily injury, are common, as are domestic violence-related felonies that carry additional mandatory sentencing provisions.
Theft felonies arise from a range of conduct, from organized retail theft to embezzlement cases involving employers or clients. Felony menacing, especially with a firearm, creates significant exposure because it can qualify as a crime of violence with mandatory minimums. Vehicular homicide and vehicular assault charges arise from serious traffic incidents on Jefferson County roads and can be based on either DUI or reckless driving as the underlying theory. Each of these charge types involves different evidence structures, different witnesses, and different legal vulnerabilities that a defense attorney must understand at a technical level before advising a client on how to proceed.
What Reid DeChant Actually Does in Felony Cases
Reid’s experience as a public defender was not administrative. He handled a high volume of cases across multiple counties, including Denver, Broomfield, and Adams, representing clients on DUI, theft, sexual assault, and homicide charges. Private practice allowed him to narrow his focus and apply greater attention to each case. He has tried cases to jury verdict, including two-count assault with a deadly weapon resulting in not guilty verdicts on both counts, a strangulation domestic violence charge that the DA dismissed at trial, and a failure to register as a sex offender case that went to not guilty at trial.
The approach at DeChant Law starts with understanding the client’s actual situation, not just the facts relevant to the charge. Reid trained at Trial Lawyers College, which centers on the idea that effective advocacy begins with genuine understanding of the person you represent. That orientation changes how a case is investigated, how witnesses are prepared, and how a jury is approached. Juries respond to lawyers who believe in what they are doing. They can also detect the opposite.
In felony cases specifically, Reid examines the government’s evidence at a granular level. Whether law enforcement followed proper procedures in a search, whether chemical test results were properly obtained and documented, whether eyewitness identification was contaminated by suggestive police procedures, whether statements attributed to the defendant were actually voluntary, these are not theoretical questions. They determine whether evidence comes in at trial and what the government can actually prove.
Questions Arvada Felony Defendants Ask
Can a felony charge be reduced to a misdemeanor?
Yes, and this happens with some regularity in Colorado practice. Charge reductions can result from plea negotiations, from motions that weaken the prosecution’s case, or from deferred judgment agreements. The eligibility for reduction depends on the specific charge, the defendant’s background, and what the evidence actually shows. Nothing is automatic, but reduction to a misdemeanor is a realistic goal in many cases.
What happens to my driver’s license if I am charged with a felony DUI?
A fourth DUI offense is a felony in Colorado. Beyond the criminal case, the DMV also initiates a separate express consent revocation proceeding against your license. These are two parallel tracks, each requiring its own response. DeChant Law handles both the criminal case and the DMV hearing, which is critical because a misstep on the DMV side can result in a lengthy revocation even if the criminal case resolves favorably.
Will I go to prison if convicted of a felony in Jefferson County?
Not necessarily. Many felony convictions result in probation rather than incarceration, particularly for lower-level felonies and defendants with limited criminal history. Whether prison is on the table depends on the class of felony, whether it qualifies as a crime of violence, any mandatory minimum provisions, and the judge assigned to the case. This is one reason early legal involvement matters: the groundwork laid during the case affects what sentencing options remain available.
How long does a felony case take in Jefferson County?
Felony cases in Jefferson County routinely take six months to over a year from arrest to resolution, and complex cases or cases proceeding to trial take longer. The timeline depends on the complexity of the charges, the volume of discovery, whether pre-trial motions are filed and litigated, and court scheduling. A case that is actively litigated by the defense often takes longer, but that time is typically spent building leverage.
Can my felony record be sealed in Colorado?
Colorado’s record sealing laws have expanded in recent years. Many felony convictions can now be sealed after a waiting period, though certain offenses, including most crimes with victims and some sexual offense categories, are excluded. Arrests that did not result in conviction are often sealable more quickly. If you have an old felony on your record that is affecting employment, housing, or licensing, it is worth evaluating whether sealing is available.
What should I do if I am under investigation for a felony but have not been charged yet?
Retain an attorney before you speak to investigators. Law enforcement does not need to disclose the extent of an investigation before asking questions, and statements made voluntarily can be used against you even if you believed you were clearing things up. An attorney can communicate with investigators on your behalf, assess whether charges are likely, and position you more favorably before any charging decision is made.
Does DeChant Law handle felony cases outside of Arvada?
Yes. DeChant Law handles felony cases across the Denver metro area, including in Jefferson County, Adams County, Broomfield County, Denver County, Douglas County, and Arapahoe County. Reid has case results in several of these jurisdictions, including not guilty verdicts in Jefferson, Douglas, and Adams County cases.
Talk to an Arvada Felony Defense Attorney
A felony case requires an attorney who has actually tried serious cases, understands the specific court where your case is pending, and is willing to do the work that real defense requires. DeChant Law represents clients facing felony charges in Arvada and throughout the Jefferson County courts. Contact the firm to discuss what your case involves and what realistic options look like given the facts you are dealing with. An Arvada felony defense attorney from DeChant Law will review your situation directly, not through a form letter or a paralegal screening call.