La Plata County Criminal Defense Lawyer
La Plata County sits in the Four Corners region of southwestern Colorado, and its criminal courts operate under the same state statutes that apply statewide, but with distinct local dynamics that shape how cases actually unfold. From Durango’s 6th Judicial District courtroom to misdemeanor matters handled at the county level, the outcomes of criminal cases here depend heavily on who is handling your defense and how well they understand what’s actually at stake. Reid DeChant is a La Plata County criminal defense lawyer who has built his practice on the kind of relentless preparation and courtroom storytelling that produces real results, not just settlements that avoid a fight.
What the 6th Judicial District Means for Your Case
La Plata County is part of Colorado’s 6th Judicial District, which also covers Archuleta and San Juan Counties. The district attorney’s office prosecutes felony and misdemeanor cases out of Durango, and understanding how that office approaches charging decisions, plea negotiations, and trial is not something you can learn from a textbook.
Cases in La Plata County move through the La Plata County Combined Courts, which handles everything from low-level misdemeanors to serious felonies. Bond hearings, preliminary hearings, and motions practice all happen here. Timing matters in this district. Defense strategy needs to be built early, before prosecutors have locked in their theory of the case.
The region sees a specific mix of criminal charges driven in part by its geography: DUI arrests along Highway 550 and Highway 160, drug offenses connected to the region’s significant tourist and outdoor recreation traffic, domestic violence charges, and cases arising from altercations in and around Durango’s downtown bar district. Each of these case types calls for a different defense approach, not a generic one.
DUI Charges in La Plata County Carry More Than a Fine
DUI stops along the major corridors into and out of Durango are routine, particularly during ski season, summer festival periods, and holiday weekends. Law enforcement in La Plata County conducts DUI enforcement on Highway 550 south toward New Mexico, on the routes leading to Purgatory Resort, and in and around downtown Durango where nightlife concentrates.
Colorado’s express consent law means that when a driver is lawfully arrested for DUI, they are required to submit to a chemical test. Refusal triggers an automatic license revocation proceeding through the DMV, separate from the criminal case. That revocation action moves on its own timeline, and missing the window to request a hearing means losing your license by default.
DeChant Law has a track record in DMV express consent hearings specifically. The results page on this website reflects multiple dismissed DMV revocation actions, including cases dismissed for improper express consent advisements, failure to administer the chemical test within the required two-hour window, and Miranda-related issues. These are not abstract legal theories. They are the actual procedural failures that trained defense counsel finds and uses.
A DUI conviction in La Plata County, depending on prior history, can mean jail time, license suspension, mandatory alcohol education, ignition interlock requirements, and lasting consequences for employment and professional licensing. A not guilty at trial or a dismissal is a different outcome entirely.
Felony Charges in Durango and How They Get Resolved
Not every felony goes to trial. Many are resolved through motions that suppress evidence, challenge the legality of a stop or search, or attack the sufficiency of the charging document. Others are resolved through negotiated dispositions that reduce a felony to a misdemeanor, or that eliminate incarceration entirely.
But some felony cases should go to trial, and the attorney you hire needs to be genuinely prepared to do that. Reid DeChant has tried felony cases to verdict, including assault with a deadly weapon, domestic violence felonies, and sex offender registration charges. Those are real courtroom experiences that shape how a defense is built from the first client meeting forward.
Felony charges in La Plata County can include assault, weapons offenses, drug distribution, sexual assault, theft, and domestic violence felonies. Each of these carries potential prison time, mandatory parole, and collateral consequences that outlast any sentence. An assault conviction can affect housing, employment, and immigration status. A drug conviction can complicate federal student loan eligibility. These downstream effects matter and they get considered at DeChant Law from the beginning, not after a plea is signed.
Domestic Violence Cases in La Plata County Require Immediate Action
Colorado’s mandatory arrest policy for domestic violence means that when law enforcement responds to a domestic call in Durango or anywhere in La Plata County, someone is very likely going to jail. Prosecutors take these charges seriously and, in many cases, they pursue them even when the alleged victim does not want to cooperate.
Once a domestic violence designation attaches to a charge, the consequences expand. A conviction triggers a federal firearms disability under the Lautenberg Amendment. Protective orders, which issue almost automatically at arrest, can remove someone from their home and complicate custody arrangements immediately. Judges in the 6th Judicial District treat domestic violence matters carefully, and navigating that environment requires knowing what arguments work and what approaches backfire.
DeChant Law has obtained dismissals at trial in domestic violence cases, including strangulation charges and harassment cases that the DA ultimately could not prove. These results reflect the importance of building a defense that accounts for the specific facts, the available witnesses, and how the evidence will actually read to a jury.
Questions People Ask About Criminal Defense in La Plata County
Can I fight a DUI charge if I failed a breath test?
Yes. A breath test result is evidence, not a verdict. The machine used to collect it must be properly calibrated and maintained. The officer must have followed required procedures. If there are gaps in any of those areas, the result can be challenged. DeChant Law has obtained not guilty verdicts and case dismissals in DUI cases across multiple Colorado counties.
What happens at my first court appearance in Durango?
Your first appearance is typically an advisement where the charges are formally read and bond conditions are set. For felonies, this is followed by a preliminary hearing or grand jury proceeding to determine probable cause. It is important to have counsel before that first hearing, not after, because bond conditions and protective orders set there can affect your daily life immediately.
Will a criminal conviction in La Plata County follow me statewide?
Colorado maintains a statewide criminal history database that law enforcement, employers, and licensing boards can access. A conviction in Durango will appear in background checks across the state and nationally in many cases. Colorado does have record sealing laws that allow certain arrests and convictions to be sealed, and DeChant Law can evaluate whether past charges qualify.
Does Reid DeChant handle cases in La Plata County specifically, or only Denver-area courts?
DeChant Law handles criminal defense cases including in southwestern Colorado. Reid’s background as a public defender across multiple Colorado counties, combined with private practice experience, gives him a foundation for working in courts throughout the state.
What is the difference between a DUI and a DWAI in Colorado?
DUI requires a BAC of 0.08% or higher, or impairment to a substantial degree. DWAI applies when a driver’s BAC is between 0.05% and 0.079%, or when impairment is even slight. DWAI carries fewer mandatory penalties than DUI on a first offense but still results in points on your license, possible jail time, and fines. Both charges show up on your criminal record.
What if the alleged victim in a domestic violence case wants to drop the charges?
In Colorado, the decision to prosecute belongs to the district attorney’s office, not the victim. Prosecutors frequently proceed even over a victim’s objection. However, a victim who declines to cooperate or provides context that undermines the charge can significantly affect how the case develops. Defense strategy in these cases is tailored to the actual facts and the realistic posture of the prosecution.
How long does a felony case in La Plata County typically take?
Timelines vary based on charge severity, the volume of discovery, whether motions are filed, and whether the case resolves through negotiation or goes to trial. Many felony cases resolve within several months. Complex matters, or those heading to trial, can take considerably longer. Your attorney should keep you informed at every stage so you are never surprised by what comes next.
Facing Charges in La Plata County? Let’s Talk About Your Defense
A criminal charge in Durango or anywhere in La Plata County can move quickly once the process starts. The earlier a defense attorney is involved, the more options remain open. DeChant Law takes a direct, honest approach with clients: here is what the evidence shows, here is what can be challenged, and here is what we are going to do about it. If you need a La Plata County criminal defense attorney who will actually prepare your case and stand next to you in court when it counts, reach out to DeChant Law to start that conversation.
