Aurora Criminal Defense Lawyer

Aurora has its own courts, its own prosecutors, and its own enforcement patterns. A charge filed in the 18th Judicial District moves differently than one handled downtown, and the decisions you make in the first days after an arrest shape everything that follows. Aurora criminal defense lawyer Reid DeChant represents people at every stage of that process, from the initial appearance through trial, with the kind of attention that comes from genuinely caring about what happens to the person sitting across the table.

Reid’s background spans public defender work in Denver, Broomfield, and Adams County, where he handled everything from traffic offenses and DUI to sexual assault and homicide cases. That range matters. It means he has stood across from prosecutors in difficult cases, understands how charging decisions get made, and knows what moves the needle in negotiations and at trial. His training at Trial Lawyers College shaped how he approaches each case: with the client’s full story at the center, not just the facts the prosecution plans to use.

What Aurora Prosecutors Actually Focus On

The Arapahoe County District Attorney’s office handles felony prosecutions for Aurora cases, while Aurora Municipal Court processes petty offenses and some misdemeanors. Understanding which court your case lands in, and why, affects the strategy from the start.

Aurora law enforcement actively enforces DUI along E-470, Iliff Avenue, and Colfax Avenue through Aurora, particularly on weekend nights and after events at nearby venues. The city also sees significant prosecution of drug-related charges, assault cases tied to domestic disputes, and theft offenses ranging from retail shoplifting near Aurora Town Center to vehicle-related crimes. Probation violations and failure-to-appear warrants from prior cases add another layer that Aurora courts treat seriously.

What matters for you is knowing that the local dynamics of prosecution, who is in the courtroom, how the DA’s office typically handles certain charges, and what defenses tend to resonate with Aurora juries, are things that only come from actual experience in these courts. Generic criminal defense advice written for no particular jurisdiction is not especially useful when your case is set for a hearing in front of a specific judge in a specific courthouse.

The Charges Where Early Defense Work Changes the Outcome

Not every charge is the same, and not every defense begins the same way. Some charges require an immediate look at the evidence the state gathered. Others hinge on procedural steps that can be challenged before the case ever gets to a jury. Here is where the early decisions genuinely matter.

DUI and DWAI cases in Aurora often turn on the legality of the traffic stop itself, the administration of field sobriety tests, and whether chemical testing was done properly under Colorado’s express consent framework. A test administered outside the two-hour window, or an advisement given after Miranda warnings instead of before, can become grounds to dismiss DMV action against your license. Reid has obtained dismissals in exactly these circumstances, results that appear in the firm’s published case history.

Assault and domestic violence charges carry mandatory arrest policies in Colorado, which means the police make the arrest decision, not the alleged victim. That also means the case proceeds even if the person who called for help does not want it to. Knowing that, and knowing how to work with that reality rather than against it, is part of what effective representation in Aurora domestic violence cases looks like.

Drug possession charges in Aurora are affected by how the search that produced the evidence was conducted. If police found controlled substances through a stop, search of a vehicle, or entry into a residence, the constitutional basis for that search is worth examining carefully. Evidence suppressed because it was gathered unlawfully cannot be used at trial, and cases without usable evidence tend not to survive.

Felony cases, including charges for aggravated assault, robbery, or sex offenses, carry consequences that extend well beyond the sentence itself: immigration status, professional licenses, the ability to own a firearm, housing applications, and employment background checks. Every decision in a felony case, including whether to accept a plea, needs to be made with full awareness of those downstream effects.

Trial Representation When That Is What It Takes

Plenty of defense lawyers settle cases. Fewer are genuinely prepared to take a case to trial, and prosecutors know the difference. When an attorney has a track record of trying cases, the plea offers made to that attorney’s clients look different than the ones made to attorneys known for avoiding the courtroom.

Reid has tried cases to not-guilty verdicts on charges including DUI, assault with a deadly weapon, strangulation in a domestic violence context, and failure to register as a sex offender. Those results are documented in DeChant Law’s published case history. The point is not that every Aurora case should go to trial. The point is that a realistic trial option, backed by genuine trial experience, is a negotiating position. Without it, you are hoping the prosecutor decides to be reasonable.

At Trial Lawyers College, Reid trained specifically in the craft of storytelling in the courtroom. That might sound abstract, but it is concrete in practice: juries decide cases based on narrative, not just evidence. Helping jurors understand who a client is, what actually happened, and why the state’s version is incomplete or wrong requires skill that goes beyond objections and cross-examination technique.

Questions People Ask About Aurora Criminal Cases

Does it matter that my case is in Aurora Municipal Court versus Arapahoe County District Court?

Yes, significantly. Aurora Municipal Court handles petty offenses and some misdemeanors under city ordinances, while Arapahoe County District Court handles felonies and state-level misdemeanors. The rules, the prosecutors involved, and the available outcomes are different in each forum. Some cases can be charged under either municipal ordinance or state statute, and that choice affects your options.

I was arrested but charges haven’t been filed yet. Should I wait to call a lawyer?

No. The period between arrest and formal charging is often when the most important work happens. Early investigation, preservation of evidence, and communication with the DA’s office before charges are filed can affect whether charges are brought at all and what they look like when they are. Waiting is not a neutral choice.

Can my Aurora criminal record be sealed?

Colorado law allows certain arrests and convictions to be sealed, which removes them from standard background checks. Eligibility depends on the charge, the disposition, and how much time has passed. Not everything qualifies, but many people who assume their record is permanent are wrong. An attorney can evaluate your specific situation and walk you through the realistic options.

What happens at the DMV hearing for an Aurora DUI arrest, and is it separate from the criminal case?

Yes, they are separate proceedings. The DMV hearing concerns your driving privilege, not your criminal liability. You typically have seven days from the date of arrest to request a hearing, and if you miss that window, your license is automatically suspended. The criminal case and the DMV action run on parallel tracks and require attention on both fronts.

I was charged with a misdemeanor. Is that serious enough to need a defense attorney?

Misdemeanor convictions in Colorado carry real penalties, including jail time, fines, and a criminal record that appears on background checks. For some people, a misdemeanor conviction also triggers professional licensing consequences or immigration complications that are more significant than the sentence itself. The charge classification matters less than the actual consequences in your particular situation.

What does it cost to hire a criminal defense lawyer for an Aurora case?

Fees vary based on the complexity of the case, the court involved, and whether the matter is likely to resolve before trial or require more extensive litigation. The best way to get a realistic sense of cost is to have a direct conversation about the specifics of your case rather than working from general estimates that may not reflect what your situation actually requires.

Can a lawyer get my Aurora DUI charges dropped completely?

Sometimes. Dismissal requires identifying a problem with the state’s case, whether that is an unlawful stop, a procedural error in chemical testing, a constitutional violation, or insufficient evidence. Not every DUI has a basis for dismissal, and an honest attorney will tell you what is realistically there to work with rather than promising a result before reviewing the facts.

Facing an Aurora Charge and Ready to Talk Through It

DeChant Law works with people facing criminal charges in Aurora and throughout the surrounding area, including cases in Arapahoe County District Court, Aurora Municipal Court, and related DMV proceedings. If you have been arrested or charged and want to talk through the actual facts of your situation with an Aurora criminal defense attorney who will give you a straight answer, reach out to the firm to set up a consultation.