Criminal Defense
Hit-and-Run Law in Colorado
There are many different rules and laws governing traffic and traffic accidents in Colorado. Unfortunately, these laws do not and simply cannot eliminate all car accidents. If you get into a car accident, you have certain duties that you must fulfill. Failing to fulfill your obligations after a car accident could subject you to the loss of your driver’s license and/or, even worse, jail time.
If you are involved in a car accident, regardless of whose fault the accident is, you will be best served by contacting The Bussey Law Firm, P.C. Our team, led by Timothy R. Bussey, has years of experience handling car accidents on both the criminal and the civil side. Call today if you’ve been in a car accident at (719) 475-2555.
Do I Need a Lawyer If I’m Innocent?
When faced with criminal charges for a crime they didn’t commit, many people believe that hiring a lawyer is not only unnecessary, but may be detrimental to their case. This is a dangerous notion that can often lead to negative consequences.
As soon as you or a loved one has become a suspect in a crime, it is imperative that you seek out the advice and counsel of a trained legal expert. Mistakes happen in our criminal justice system and while we are supposed to maintain the ideal of “innocent until proven guilty,” once the full weight of the legal system gets rolling against you, it can be very difficult to stop.
There are many reasons why a person might be falsely accused. Some examples include:
- Mistaken eyewitnesses
- Faulty forensic evidence
- False accusation
- Official misconduct
- False confession
Why You Should Get a Lawyer Early On
The earliest days of a police investigation are often the most important. This is when investigating officers will begin to gather evidence to build their case. This initial investigation will likely include an attempt to interview a person—and this in turn will form law enforcement’s conclusion(s) about what has occurred.
An interview given early in an investigation can be hard to overcome later on. That’s why it is a mistake for you to assume that the truth will win out if you take a “wait and see” approach. Rather, if you find that you are suspected of a crime that you didn’t commit, it is imperative that you act quickly to make sure these suspicions do not lead to mistakes by the police department that will only become more complicated as the investigation continues.
How the Innocent Can Be Found Guilty
Numerous studies have pointed out that eyewitness testimony can often be unreliable. The reasons include faulty memory, poorly administered identification lineups, and institutional bias. According to the Innocence Project, “Eyewitness misidentification is the greatest contributing factor to wrongful convictions proven by DNA testing, playing a role in more than 70% of convictions overturned through DNA testing nationwide.”
Faulty forensic evidence is another contributor to false convictions—and it can be particularly damning. This is when police and prosecutors rely on questionable and unreliable forensic techniques, misapply forensic science, or exaggerate its reliability in court testimony.
There Is Help Available
No matter what your particular circumstances are, if you have been charged with, accused of, or even suspected of a crime, you need to take immediate action to ensure that the situation doesn’t worsen. Don’t hesitate because you are worried how hiring a criminal defense lawyer might look. You need to do everything in your power to protect yourself. Our team at The Bussey Law Firm, P.C., lead by Timothy Bussey, can help protect your constitutional rights when you are facing criminal charges. Contact Timothy R. Bussey at The Bussey Law Firm, P.C. today by calling (719) 475-2555 and scheduling a free consultation.
Do I Need a Lawyer If I’m Innocent?
When faced with criminal charges for a crime they didn’t commit, many people believe that hiring a lawyer is not only unnecessary, but may be detrimental to their case. This is a dangerous notion that can often lead to negative consequences.
As soon as you or a loved one has become a suspect in a crime, it is imperative that you seek out the advice and counsel of a trained legal expert. Mistakes happen in our criminal justice system and while we are supposed to maintain the ideal of “innocent until proven guilty,” once the full weight of the legal system gets rolling against you, it can be very difficult to stop.
Do I Need a Lawyer for a Misdemeanor?
Most people don’t hesitate to contact a lawyer when they’ve been charged with, or even suspected of, a felony crime. But when it comes to misdemeanor charges, there are many defendants who do not realize that having a lawyer can be nearly as important.
If you or a loved one has been charged with a misdemeanor in the state of Colorado, it would definitely be a mistake to underestimate the seriousness of your situation. Misdemeanors in Colorado can be punished, in some instances, with a jail sentence of 24 months. Additionally, a seemingly small matter may result in lifelong consequences, including the loss of an individual’s right to own and/or possess firearms.
There are three categories of misdemeanors, ranging from class 3, the least serious, to class 1, the most serious. Let’s take a look at the typical crimes that lead to misdemeanor charges.
Colorado Man Arrested for Accidentally Shooting Neighbor
A 51-year-old man faces criminal charges after his gun accidentally went off as he was cleaning it. The incident occurred in the 2600 block of Avalanche Heights in Colorado Springs. Officials say the man was cleaning his gun when it misfired. The bullet went through his wall and struck his neighbor, who was sitting on a couch at the time of the accident. The neighbor was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries. The 51-year-old man was jailed on charges of illegal discharge of a firearm.
Colorado Springs 7-Eleven Robbed Twice In One Week
A local 7-Eleven was been robbed twice within a week recently. The 7-11 near Briargate Boulevard and Union Boulevard in Colorado Springs was robbed New Year’s Day morning and then again during the early morning hours of January 6. Both robberies involved a white man in a hoodie and bandanna who brandished a gun. In both robberies, the robber demanded cash and cigarettes before running from the store. No suspect has been arrested.
Study Shows Crime Rates Are Low Even in the “Ten Worst” Colorado Counties
Analyzing the FBI’s most recent crime statistics for Colorado, a group of researchers at FindTheBest.com ranked Colorado’s counties according to violent crime rates. And although the site’s “Ten Worst Counties” list has been making the rounds on the Internet, a second look at the numbers reveals that even in these so-called “worst” counties, the number of violent crimes tracked is lower than it is in many other U.S. locales.
Counties on the “ten worst” list includes:
- Saguache County. Ranking at number nine on the list, Saguache County recorded 322.6 violent crimes per 100,000 people – but with a low overall population, these numbers included no murders, only two robberies, and 15 assaults.
Colorado Appeals Court Rules That Defendants May Search Victims’ Homes
An appeals court in Colorado recently ruled that a person facing criminal charges in Colorado may search a victim’s home in order to gather information that may help their defense, according to a recent ABC News report.
The appeals court considered a case in which a man accused of sexual assault was denied access to the alleged crime scene, which was in a family member’s basement. The court ruled that because the accused individual already had photos of the crime scene, it was not inappropriate for the trial judge to deny him access to the scene itself – but the court also said that trial judges are allowed to grant access to crime scenes in similar cases, whether or not a scene is in an alleged victim’s home.
Colorado Criminal Defense Attorneys Say: Don’t Restrain Children in Court
Colorado residents who watch crime dramas or news clips about criminal cases know that many adult defendants come into the courtroom wearing restraints – handcuffs or ankle shackles. But what they don’t know is that in many juvenile court cases, children as young as age 10 may appear before the judge in restraints as well. Public defenders and experienced Colorado juvenile defense attorneys throughout the state want that to change.
Top Five Terms You’ll Hear in a Colorado Juvenile Justice Proceeding
The juvenile justice system in Colorado works differently than the standard criminal justice system. It serves a different population – children – and it has different goals than the criminal justice system that adults face. As a result, it has its own set of words and phrases to describe the process.
Here are five terms you’ll likely hear in juvenile court and what they mean: