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Some crimes are more serious than others, particularly in the eyes of the law. In Colorado, a felony is the most serious kind of criminal charge. It is reserved for activity that the government considers especially harmful or dangerous, though defendants sometimes end up charged with a more serious crime than they deserve.

Felonies carry very harsh penalties, including lengthy prison sentences and revocation of some of your most basic rights as a citizen of the United States. Your entire world can change for the worst, and without an effective defense, the consequences may follow you for the rest of your life.

Colorado’s prosecutors and police are aggressive in pursuing felony charges. Innocent people sometimes find themselves facing a terrifying felony charge simply because the police made a mistake. Similarly, small-scale misdemeanor activity is often unfairly ramped up to a felony charge because the state failed to exercise sound judgment when assessing the crime.

If you have been charged with a felony in Colorado, you need a legal advocate with an in-depth understanding of Colorado criminal law on your side.

Our defense lawyers know how frightening, embarrassing, and fundamentally unfair Colorado’s felony charges can be. We also understand that anyone can make a mistake — even good, honest people who’ve slipped up and found themselves on the wrong side of the law.

Our experienced felony lawyers provide a passionate, tireless, and aggressive defense for those who need a helping hand against the Colorado justice system. Having a compassionate and experienced advocate by your side can make all the difference.

Colorado Felony Charges Must Be Taken Seriously

If you have been charged with a felony in Colorado, your future and freedom are at stake. You are facing the very real threat of a long-term prison sentence, not to mention a criminal shadow that will follow you around for the rest of your life. You must take immediate and decisive action to fully protect your rights.

Even if wrongfully accused, attempting to handle felony charges on your own could forever impair your quality of life. Tackling any serious criminal charge without experienced legal representation is an enormous mistake.

Hiring an experienced felony lawyer may be the most important thing you ever do. These cases are complicated, and the stakes are high.

Do not accept a felony charge that you don’t deserve. Let our attorneys fight for your freedom.

What Is a Felony?

There is some confusion in the general public about what “felony” means. Some people are under the mistaken belief that a felony is exclusively a federal charge. That is not true. Felonies exist under both state and federal law. The State of Colorado may charge you with a felony based purely on the state criminal code. A Denver felony defense attorney can help you understand your legal options and protect your rights if you’re facing felony charges.

People are also sometimes surprised to learn that “felony” includes a much broader range of crimes than they realized. While felonies are defined as crimes of “high seriousness,” they expand far beyond the capitol offenses that the public most readily associates with that term.

Sometimes, a mere technicality can bump a minor charge up to a felony. Unfortunately, prosecutors and police are known to sometimes exploit those technicalities in order to unfairly secure a tougher conviction. Indeed, you may find yourself facing a felony for what seems like a very low-level offense.

What Is the Difference Between a Felony and a Misdemeanor?

If a crime is not a felony, it is usually considered a misdemeanor or a petty offense. These latter charges are less serious than felonies, though they may still carry significant consequences that require a strong defense.

Wolf Law, LLC provides representation for a wide range of crimes, including both felony charges and misdemeanors in Colorado. You’ll find information about misdemeanors elsewhere on this website; meanwhile, the remainder of this page will explain the various felony classes in Colorado, the potential penalties, and how a felony lawyer in Denver can help.

What are the Felony Classes in Colorado?

Colorado’s criminal code divides felonies into six different classes, according to the severity of the allegations and the penalties attached.

In the outline below, each class is listed along with a “presumptive range” penalty. Please note that, in extreme or aggravated cases (as explained further below), the punishments may be far more extensive than the ranges listed below.

Class 6 Felony: 12 to 18 months in prison, plus a fine of $1,000 to $100,000. 1 year of parole.

Class 5 Felony: 1 to 3 years in prison, plus a fine of $1,000 to $100,000. 2 years of parole.

Class 4 Felony: 2 to 6 years in prison, plus a fine of $2,000 to $500,000. 3 years of parole.

Class 3 Felony: 4 to 12 years in prison, plus a fine of $3,000 to $750,000. 5 years of parole.

Class 2 Felony: 8 to 24 years in prison, plus a fine of $5,000 to $1,000,000. 5 years of parole.

Class 1 Felony: Life imprisonment or Death (Capital Punishment). Class 1 felonies are reserved the most serious crimes, most commonly first-degree murder.

In reviewing these guidelines, it is important to note that while Class 6 is less serious than Class 1, there is no such thing as a non-serious felony. Now, within Colorado there are also Drug Felony Classes as well. In the outline below, just as the Felony Classes above, these are merely a presumptive range that may change with aggravated circumstances.

Drug Felony Class 1: 8* to 32 years in prison, plus a fine of $500,000 to $1,000,000. 3 years of parole.

Drug Felony Class 2: 4 to 8 years in prison, plus a fine of $3,000 to $750,000. 2 years of parole.

Drug Felony Class 3: 2 to 4 years in prison, plus a fine of $2,000 to $500,000. 1 year of parole.

Drug Felony Class 4: 6 months to 1 year in prison, plus a fine of $1,000 to $100,000. 1 year of parole

*Unlike other provisions, a Class 1 Drug Felony requires a mandatory sentence to prison.

Keep in mind the above list does not indicate the common sentences for petty drug offenses and misdemeanors. These offenses are classified according to the weight of the drug involved and will have different offense levels, as well as different sentencing.

When Penalties Get Worse: Extraordinary Risk Crimes and Aggravating Factors

Colorado allows for even tougher penalties than those listed above when certain factors are alleged. An extraordinary risk crime is one that alleges aggravated robbery, child abuse, or certain kinds of drug-related behavior or violence. Any felony charged as an extraordinary risk crime will have a wider penalty range.

Additionally, various aggravating factors can increase the seriousness of a charge or its penalties. These may include prior convictions, parole violations, use of a deadly weapon, or commission of certain sex crimes, among other factors.

Some felonies may also have specific sentences and exceptions established in their own statutes, and these charges may fall outside the guidelines listed above.

Prosecutors have a certain amount of discretion in deciding which penalties to pursue against a given defendant, depending on the facts and circumstances surrounding the allegations and the track record of the accused. An experienced felony lawyer in Denver can help ensure that charges are applied and pursued fairly, reducing penalties for aggravated or extraordinary risk crimes to the greatest extent possible.

What Rights Will I Lose if Convicted of a Felony?

Felony convictions often trigger the loss of basic citizenship rights, which may include:

  • The right to travel abroad
  • The right to vote (while incarcerated)
  • The right to possess firearms
  • The right to serve on a jury
  • Certain parental rights or benefits
  • Eligibility for certain governmental assistance / supplements
  • Eligibility for certain kinds of employment

This is not necessarily a comprehensive list. Remember that felony convictions will be added to your permanent record and could impact your access to employment, education, assistance, and many other resources or opportunities for the rest of your life.

Get Help from an Experienced Felony Lawyer in Denver

Being charged with a felony might seem like the end of the world, but it isn’t. Hiring an experienced felony lawyer in Denver might mean the difference between freedom and a long time spent in prison.

When you contact Wolf Law, you can rest assured that Jeffrey Wolf himself will handle your defense. He will work with you to thoroughly examine all of the evidence, including important mitigating factors, and mount an effective challenge in order to minimize the penalties you might otherwise face.

Time matters. If you need an excellent and compassionate felony lawyer in Denver, please contact Wolf Law for a free consultation today.

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I Couldn’t Have Asked for a Better Lawyer

Until the night of my DUI, I had never been in trouble before so one could only imagine how scared I was. Facing a DUI with a possible felony/assault charge, I honestly wasn’t sure how I was going to get through it all. I happened to find Jeffrey Wolf through another lawyer. After meeting with him in person, I knew immediately that he was going to help me. I was a complete wreck from day 1 and yet he made me feel at ease with every meeting, phone call and court appearance.

One of the traits I appreciated most was his honesty. Mr. Wolf told me straight up from the beginning what could happen and what I was facing but reassured me that he would do everything he could to get me through it with the best outcome. Having him there with me through this process and through every court appearance with him by my side made it easier to handle and I am so grateful to have worked with him. At the end of it all, I was able to get probation with a deferred judgment on my case. I would absolutely refer Mr. Wolf to any of my friends and/or family!

— Nichole G.

Excellent Lawyer

I would like to share my experience and recommend Jeffrey Wolf at Wolf Law for their dedication and awesome team. I had recently contacted the Wolf Law firm with a rather challenging case and he was able to get it resolved satisfactorily and for that, thank you.

— Cece M.

Expedient, Thorough and Effective

Fortunately, I don’t find myself needing legal representation often…only once before have I needed an attorney. My situation was interesting…I was given a disorderly conduct summons and felt it was far beyond the pale in terms of its validity. I didn’t want this on my record and needed help navigating the legal process. I did some research on a few attorneys and read about Jeff Wolf’s practice. I called Jeff and we spoke the same day. He listened to me and I met with him a few days later. He took the time to explain his process and approach, which made sense to me and seemed to be in the right dollar range for what we were dealing with. Thankfully, my case was dismissed. Jeff took the time to show the DA that there were inconsistencies all over the place and that there was no way I was guilty…likely shouldn’t have even been issued a summons. As I said to Jeff, I hope I never have to talk with him again, but I won’t hesitate to call if need be.

— Christian

Wolf Law is Well Worth the Investment

Thanks to Jeff Wolf I had the ideal outcome on my case, whereas without any representation it would’ve been a less than desirable outcome without me even fully knowing my options. He was extremely informative and thorough; it was clear that not only did he know what to do for every scenario but I was confident that he would make it happen, which he did. Very personable and easy to trust, I highly recommend Jeff and Wolf Law.

— Jeff H.

Excellent Representation!

Jeff was with me from Day 1 after getting pulled over for an accused DUI charge. Jeff’s knowledge of the process and responsiveness to my questions, concerns were impressive. His professionalism to me and in court was excellent. Jeff truly made this stressful and emotionally taxing situation 100 times better. I am grateful he was referred to me. I would definitely recommend Jeff if ever faced with a driving-related charge. Jeff will be my first call in the future for any legal counsel (which hopefully, is never again).

— Scott

The Best Lawyer I’ve Ever Come Across

I got my first DUI in April when I fell asleep in my car because I couldn’t get inside my house. I knew I needed a lawyer to help me fight the case but I was really hesitant on who I wanted to hire. I came across Jeffrey Wolf and I couldn’t be any happier that I chose him to represent me. Jeffrey is not only very professional but he can also relate to you on a personal level. Since it was my first offense I had no idea what to expect or what I was doing. He guided me through the whole process and I was very pleased with the results. He was able to convince the Judge to let me off with 6 months of unsupervised probation and level 1 education classes. Jeffrey is very loyal and a wonderful lawyer, definitely hiring him again if need be.

— Anonymous

Exceptional Representation

I could not be happier related to the representation I received from Cassandra and her team. Outstanding expectation calibration, more important is her command and understanding of recent precedent setting case law…without that dexterity my case does not get dismissed. Cassandra is available, prepared and has healthy disdain for nonsense from prosecutors and/or judges. If you are in need of tenacious representation – I would highly recommend Cassandra!

— David Reynolds

Complete Professionals

This law firm is the true example of professionalism. They are very responsive, very up front and extremely respectful. Colleen is an amazing attorney who truly enjoys what she does. I would recommend Colleen to anyone. She is honest, hard working, no BS, and gets the job done. She knows what to say and when to say it. She definitely went above and beyond for me. I would 100 percent use her again without a doubt.

— Zach

Wolf Law Office Amazing team!!!

I had been referred to Jeff from a family member and sure glad I was. Jeff takes his time to make sure I was aware of what is going on. Very kind and professional, great at what he does on helping people. Thank you Jeff for all your hard work.

Also thank you to Cassandra for also handling the DMV side I can’t tank you enough for helping me with that also.

— Jordan M.

Amazing Results

I worked with Jeffrey on my first DUI case. I had a high BAC but instead of focusing on that, he had me focus on the things I could do before court to prepare. I did my part and he did too. 2/3 charges dropped, 1 largely reduced which prevented any jail time. I’m so thankful, highly recommend Wolf Law.

— Aaron S.