Bruce Brown, Attorney at Law
Important Facts For You To Know!
The Law Offices of Bruce Brown emphasizes the practice of criminal defense law in Colorado and aggressively defending you in both State and Federal actions. Bruce Brown has been defending persons accused since 1986 and is highly successful in the defense of serious felonies and misdemeanors including: charges of drug sales and possession, assault, domestic violence, theft, driving under the influence and other types of offenses.
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Understanding Felonies
[goto top]In court: Felony matters are more serious than misdemeanors and are charged as felony offenses because an injury occurred, a weapon was used, or the amount of property involved is great. Most persons charged with a felony will have a preliminary hearing at which the prosecution is required to establish the basic facts of their case or the court will dismiss the charges.
Trial: Trials entitle an accused to a jury of twelve people and are usually extended proceedings lasting several days and sometimes weeks. In order for a jury to convict a person all twelve jurors must be unanimous in their judgment or else a hung jury occurs and the proceedings revert to the status before trial.
Sentencing: Felonies are serious charges punishable by imprisonment in the Department of Corrections. Some felonies, particularly those involving firearms, require that a convicted offender be sentenced to prison.
When the court is convinced that prison is not warranted, the court can give an offender jail time in a local facility. Alternatives to jail time can include work release, home detention, and community corrections.
Understanding Misdemeanors
[goto top]Misdemeanors tend to be less serious on the scale of criminal offenses much like a traffic ticket is less serious than being arrested.
In court: For misdemeanor offenses, the court procedures are less complex than felonies. Nevertheless, a criminal conviction of any sort can have dire consequences for job opportunities, immigration and basic freedom so preparation must be complete.
Trial: Usually a misdemeanor trial will last no more than a few days unless the case has numerous different type of charges or public notoriety. In some jurisdictions the jury panel is not twelve persons but six. The Law Offices of Bruce Brown bring technology into the courtroom environment so that a complete record is preserved and jurors see and hear a ‘cutting edge’ presentation.
Sentencing: Maximum terms for misdemeanors are typically months not years. The length of a jail term is more predictable than a felony because individual judges are “usually” consistent on what they levy upon a convicted person because there are so many more people charged with misdemeanors.
Driving under the influence
[goto top]Many "ordinary" people dealing with a criminal charge will be fighting a charge of driving under the influence. At the Law Offices of Bruce Brown, we are very experienced at helping you understand the confusing rules in these cases that must be addressed as soon as possible after arrest. Failure to contact the Law Offices of Bruce Brown within the first week of your arrest can result in the irrevocable suspension of your driver’s license.
In court: If you have taken a breath or blood test, our independent lab should examine the sample that police have taken in an attempt disprove that police have accurately recorded your alcohol level above the legal limit. If a retest is not available, other ways exist to disprove a violation such as examining testing records.
Possible sentencing: People who have multiple driving under the influence convictions or related charges are punished much more severely than first-time offenders are. All persons will be subjected to a driver’s license restriction or revocation often without any consideration to a medical or work related need to drive.
Juvenile Offenders
[goto top]A person under 18 is usually charged as a juvenile offender and is subject to more rehabilitation-minded procedures and sentences than an adult similarly charged. However, in serious cases juveniles can be charged as adults and face lengthy terms if convicted.
The Law Offices of Bruce Brown will take a more holistic approach to defending a charged juvenile and will need to know what is going on at school, in the home and meet with parents.
Trial: Rarely does a charged juvenile obtain trial by jury. Most juveniles are only entitled to have their culpability determined by a judge. Therefore, trials are much more abbreviated for juveniles as the ceremony with juries is dispensed with.
Sentencing: Most judges will want to keep a juvenile within a supportive home environment if possible. If a juvenile is taken out of his or her home foster type care can be a consideration as are group homes.
Prison for kids is a last resort.
Sex Offenses
[goto top]Most sex offenses enable punishment in prison for life. Even offenses involving police in an undercover operation of Internet luring can result in this type of severe sentence. Because this type of crime can be as complex as requiring DNA testing, or as basic as "your word against theirs", an experienced legal hand can make all the difference. We regularly work with a team of experienced professional investigators, medical doctors, and expert witnesses to present a winning defense.
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