In El Paso County and Colorado Springs various criminal charges are heard in the local Federal Magistrate Court. This commonly occurs when a criminal event takes place on a Federal installation such as:
- United States Air Force Academy
- Fort Carson
- Peterson Air Force Base
- National Parks
- Shriver Air Base
- United States Post Office
- NORAD
- Any other Federal Facility
Federal criminal charges and penalties can come in many forms and Colorado Federal charges and possible jail time can be an element of them. Many people are intimidated by facing these types of charges and end up not going to court or even getting an attorney. That is unfortunate because the penalties involved can be very heavy. In some circumstances the fines and jail time can be substantially more than the penalties faced if convicted of a felony charge.
There are two types of Colorado federal offenses; those involving federal crimes and those that are against state law. Federal criminal charges and possible jail time often stem from actions that a person has done in one state but performed in another. The U.S. Code contains what is known as “jail words” which include charges such as” willfully disfigure, hurt or impair.” These kinds of crimes have a potential penalty of not less than three years in prison and a fine of not more than $10,000.
Other types of Colorado federal offenses include those involving money laundering and fraud, forgery and identity theft. A person who is accused of any of these offenses faces steep fines and/or jail time. There are two types of schemes to which this money can be handed over; either life imprisonment with all the additional penalties described above or fines and probation with the judge placing the individual in jail. If probation is granted, the individual is prohibited from contacting the person who wired the money and must serve at least part of their sentence in jail.
It is important to remember that both types of schemes require the involvement of an accomplice. This is where some Colorado criminal charges and Colorado federal sentences can differ. Some states such as Maryland have created so-called “three strikes and you are out laws.” This means that if the defendant has been previously convicted of a crime in three or more different states, they must serve at least part of their sentence in jail in order to be eligible for re-sentencing under the state law.
On the other hand, Colorado federal cases and state fines are treated equally regardless of whether or not the individual has actually been found guilty. As long as the individual was found guilty of one felony, they are subject to the same fines and probation terms as those who committed multiple felonies. The only real difference is the amount of jail time, a person will serve. If it’s at all possible, a person who is facing jail time should consult a Colorado criminal attorney to discuss their options.
These are some of the most common charges an individual facing federal charges in Colorado may face. Although there are certainly other crimes that fall under the heading of “felony” in Colorado, not all state crimes dealing with firearm violations fall under this umbrella. If you have been charged with a Colorado felony, it is vital that you retain a Denver criminal lawyer who specializes in defense of this type of charges. While these types of charges certainly don’t make the kind of public attention that those associated with more severe felonies do, they can be just as serious and impose just as much jail time as those other kinds of charges
Call Michael W. Moran at 719-447-1923 for a free consultation. Mike is licensed and admitted to practice before all Federal Courts in the State of Colorado.
Federal crimes charged locally in El Paso County and Colorado Springs generally involve low level misdemeanors such as:
- DUI/DWAI
- Shoplifting
- Driving Under Suspension
- Driving Under Revocation
- Wild Game Infraction
- Poaching
- Hunting Violation
- Theft
- Marijuana charges
- Harassment and Fighting Charges
Penalties in the Federal court system tend to be harsher and the legal complexities more involved. If you are convicted in Federal Court, you may face a penalty to include mandatory fines and being placed on Federal probation. Keep in mind the Federal Government has considerable resources and is more zealous in prosecuting offenses. Colorado law is utilized by the Federal Government and is prosecuted by the local Judge Advocate General office, commonly known as JAG. A JAG officer is a military officer who is assigned to prosecute Federal law under the local jurisdiction.
Federal court convictions and dismissals differ from Colorado state law in that there is no provision for sealing or expunging of Federal criminal records.
It is important to have a strong advocate that knows the Federal system and can fight on your behalf.
Please call the office of Michael W. Moran, P.C. at 719-447-1923 for a free consultation.