Colorado Criminal Defense Attorney

Since 1992, Thomas A. Ramunda Jr. has represented people facing criminal investigations, arrests, charges, and other serious legal problems in Colorado.

Being accused of a crime can affect nearly every part of a person’s life. Even before a case reaches trial, an allegation may threaten employment, professional licensing, housing, family relationships, driving privileges, immigration status, and personal reputation.

An arrest or criminal charge is not proof of guilt. The prosecution has the burden of proving every required element of the offense, and the accused has the right to challenge the government’s evidence and conduct.

Tom approaches each case with careful preparation, direct advice, and a commitment to pursuing the best lawful result available. Depending on the facts, that may mean seeking dismissal, excluding unlawfully obtained evidence, negotiating a favorable resolution, reducing potential penalties, or presenting the case at trial.

Criminal Charges Require an Individual Defense

No two criminal cases are exactly alike. The same charge may involve very different evidence, defenses, sentencing risks, and personal consequences.

An effective defense begins by examining questions such as:

Why did law enforcement begin the investigation?
Was the client lawfully stopped, detained, searched, or arrested?
Were statements obtained in violation of constitutional rights?
Are witness accounts accurate and consistent?
Is physical or digital evidence reliable?
Did officers preserve all relevant evidence?
Can the prosecution prove the required mental state?
Are there innocent explanations for the alleged conduct?
Does the client have an affirmative defense?
Are the charges supported by the facts and applicable law?
What collateral consequences could follow a plea or conviction?

Tom carefully evaluates the evidence, the law, the client’s history, and the client’s goals before recommending a strategy.

Early Intervention and Pre-Filing Investigations

A person does not always have to wait until charges are filed to obtain legal representation.

Law enforcement may contact a person as a suspect, ask the person to participate in an interview, request access to a phone or computer, execute a search warrant, or submit an investigation to the district attorney for a charging decision.

Early representation may allow an attorney to:

Communicate with investigators
Help the client avoid unnecessary or damaging statements
Preserve video, messages, records, and other evidence
Locate and interview witnesses
Present relevant information to the investigating agency or prosecutor
Address surrender or bond arrangements
Prepare the client for possible charges
Identify legal issues before evidence disappears

A person who believes that they are under investigation should not assume that voluntarily explaining the situation to police will make the matter disappear. Statements made during an investigation may later be used by the prosecution.

Felony Defense

Felonies are the most serious category of criminal offenses and may carry the possibility of imprisonment, substantial fines, lengthy probation, and significant long-term consequences.

A felony conviction may affect:

Employment and professional licensing
Firearm rights
Housing
Education and financial aid
Immigration status
Voting and civic rights in certain circumstances
Parenting and family-law proceedings
Future sentencing exposure

Felony cases may involve preliminary hearings, extensive discovery, expert witnesses, forensic evidence, motions hearings, plea negotiations, and jury trials.

Tom represents clients accused of serious offenses and works to identify weaknesses in the prosecution’s case, constitutional violations, factual defenses, evidentiary problems, and appropriate mitigation.

Misdemeanor Defense

A misdemeanor may be less serious than a felony, but it should not be treated as inconsequential.

Depending on the offense, a misdemeanor conviction may result in:

Jail
Probation
Fines and court costs
Treatment or counseling
Community service
Protection-order restrictions
Loss of firearms
Employment consequences
Immigration consequences
A public criminal record

Some misdemeanor cases involve allegations of domestic violence, assault, harassment, theft, property damage, alcohol or drug use, or violations of court orders. These cases can have consequences far beyond the sentence imposed by the criminal court.

Colorado county courts generally handle misdemeanor and petty-offense cases, while felony cases ordinarily proceed in district court.

Domestic Violence-Related Charges

Under Colorado law, domestic violence is generally a designation based on the relationship between the parties and the alleged purpose or circumstances of the conduct. It is not necessarily a separate criminal offense.

A domestic-violence designation may be attached to charges such as:

Assault
Harassment
Criminal mischief
Menacing
False imprisonment
Stalking
Trespass
Violation of a protection order
Telephone or electronic harassment

Domestic-violence cases frequently involve a mandatory protection order, restrictions on contact, removal from a shared residence, firearm consequences, and required treatment following a conviction.

These cases may also affect divorce, parenting-time, decision-making, employment, housing, and professional licensing matters.

The fact that an alleged victim wants a case dismissed does not necessarily end the prosecution. Once charges are filed, the prosecutor—not the complaining witness—generally decides whether the case continues.

Assault, Menacing, and Harassment

Charges involving threats, physical contact, or alleged injury often depend heavily on context.

The defense may need to examine:

Whether the accused acted in self-defense or defense of another
Who initiated the confrontation
Whether the alleged injury is consistent with the accusation
Whether witness accounts conflict
Whether the parties had motives to exaggerate or fabricate
Whether video, photographs, medical records, or electronic communications contradict the allegation
Whether the prosecution can prove the required intent or mental state

A person may be arrested based on incomplete information gathered during a rapidly developing incident. A thorough investigation can reveal facts that were missed or misunderstood at the scene.

Theft, Fraud, and Property Offenses

Theft and fraud cases may involve allegations concerning money, merchandise, credit cards, financial accounts, services, business property, or property belonging to a family member or employer.

Potential defenses may involve:

Ownership or authorization
Lack of intent
Mistaken identity
Accounting or recordkeeping errors
Contractual or business disputes
Return or repayment of property
Unreliable surveillance or identification evidence
Insufficient proof of value
Lack of knowledge that property was stolen

The value of the property or alleged loss can affect the classification and seriousness of the charge.

Financial cases may involve large volumes of records, digital evidence, banking documents, business files, and expert analysis. They should be evaluated carefully rather than reduced to the accusation stated in the police report.

Drug Charges

Colorado drug cases may involve possession, distribution, manufacture, cultivation, prescription medication, or drug paraphernalia.

The defense may examine:

Whether the substance belonged to the accused
Whether the accused knew the substance was present
Whether police conducted a lawful search
Whether a warrant was valid and properly executed
Whether the substance was properly collected and tested
Whether the prosecution can establish weight or concentration
Whether the evidence supports personal use or distribution
Whether another person had equal or greater access to the location
Whether treatment, diversion, or another alternative resolution may be available

The legality of marijuana in some circumstances does not prevent criminal charges involving unlawful possession, distribution, driving, public use, underage possession, or conduct prohibited by federal law.

Weapons Charges

Weapons cases may involve allegations of unlawful possession, prohibited use, possession by a prohibited person, carrying a concealed weapon, or use of a weapon during another alleged offense.

These cases may raise questions concerning:

Whether the object legally qualifies as a prohibited weapon
Whether the accused knowingly possessed it
Whether the search and seizure were lawful
Whether a statutory exception applies
Whether the person was legally prohibited from possessing a firearm
Whether the weapon was actually used, displayed, or threatened
Whether another person owned or controlled the weapon

Weapons allegations can substantially increase the potential consequences of another criminal charge and may affect a person’s firearm rights even before final disposition.

Juvenile and Young-Adult Cases

An accusation can have lasting effects on a young person’s education, employment, military plans, licensing, scholarships, and future opportunities.

Juvenile proceedings differ from adult criminal cases and may focus more heavily on rehabilitation. However, serious allegations can still result in detention, probation, placement outside the home, registration requirements, or transfer-related issues.

Young adults charged in adult court may also face consequences that are disproportionate to a single poor decision. Early intervention, treatment, restitution, education, and other mitigation may be important in negotiating or presenting the case.

Bond and Release Conditions

After an arrest, the court may determine whether the accused will be released and what conditions will apply while the case is pending.

Conditions may include:

Regular court appearances
Pretrial supervision
Drug or alcohol testing
Travel restrictions
No-contact provisions
Firearm restrictions
Electronic monitoring
Treatment requirements
Restrictions on residence or employment
Prohibitions against committing another offense

Violating a bond condition can lead to revocation of release, additional charges, or more restrictive conditions.

A criminal defense attorney may advocate concerning bond, release conditions, modification of restrictions, and the client’s ability to continue working and meeting family responsibilities.

Mandatory Protection Orders

Colorado criminal cases commonly involve a mandatory protection order that begins at the defendant’s first appearance or arraignment and ordinarily remains in effect until the case reaches final disposition, unless the court modifies it.

A criminal protection order may require the accused to:

Refrain from harassing, intimidating, retaliating against, or tampering with witnesses
Avoid contact with a named person
Stay away from a residence, workplace, or other location
Refrain from possessing firearms or other weapons
Avoid alcohol or controlled substances
Comply with other court-ordered restrictions

The precise terms matter. A person should not rely on informal permission from another individual to disregard a court order. Only the court can modify or terminate its order.

Tom assists clients with criminal protection orders, requests for modification, and allegations that an order has been violated.

The Criminal Court Process

The procedure varies according to the charge and the court, but a criminal case may include:

Investigation
Arrest or issuance of a summons
Advisement or first appearance
Bond determination
Filing of formal charges
Discovery
Pretrial conferences
Preliminary hearing in qualifying felony cases
Motions to suppress or exclude evidence
Plea negotiations
Trial
Sentencing
Appeal or post-conviction proceedings

Colorado’s Code of Criminal Procedure is intended to provide for the just determination of criminal proceedings while protecting the defendant’s constitutional rights.

Tom explains the process, the available options, and the potential consequences at each important stage so that clients can make informed decisions.

Reviewing the Prosecution’s Evidence

Police reports are only one part of a criminal case. They often reflect the officer’s interpretation and may omit conflicting evidence, context, or information learned later.

A defense investigation may involve reviewing:

Body-camera footage
Dash-camera footage
Surveillance video
Photographs
Emergency calls
Dispatch communications
Text messages and emails
Social-media evidence
Cellphone extraction reports
Medical records
Laboratory reports
Search warrants and affidavits
Witness statements
Expert reports
Physical evidence

The defense may also investigate whether evidence was lost, destroyed, contaminated, improperly obtained, or inaccurately described.

Constitutional Issues and Motions

The United States and Colorado Constitutions protect people against unreasonable searches and seizures and provide important rights during questioning and prosecution.

Depending on the circumstances, the defense may challenge:

An unlawful traffic stop
An unsupported detention
A warrantless search
A defective search warrant
An arrest without probable cause
Statements obtained in violation of the right to counsel
An involuntary confession
Improper identification procedures
Unlawful seizure of a phone or computer
Failure to preserve exculpatory evidence
Improper expert testimony
Evidence that is irrelevant, unreliable, or unfairly prejudicial

When evidence was obtained unlawfully, the defense may ask the court to suppress or exclude it. The effect of a successful motion depends on the importance of the evidence to the prosecution’s case.

Plea Negotiations

Not every case should go to trial, and not every plea offer should be accepted.

A negotiated resolution may be appropriate when it meaningfully reduces the charges, sentencing exposure, collateral consequences, or uncertainty of trial. Before advising a client to accept an offer, Tom considers:

The strength of the prosecution’s evidence
Available defenses
The likely sentence after a plea or trial
Immigration consequences
Employment and licensing effects
Firearm consequences
Protection-order terms
Restitution
Probation conditions
Record-sealing eligibility
The client’s tolerance for risk
The client’s personal goals

The decision whether to plead guilty or proceed to trial belongs to the client after receiving informed legal advice.

Trial

When a fair resolution cannot be reached, a client has the right to require the prosecution to prove the charge in court.

Trial preparation may include:

Investigating witnesses
Preparing cross-examination
Challenging forensic or expert evidence
Developing exhibits
Presenting defense witnesses
Preparing the client to testify when appropriate
Identifying weaknesses in the prosecution’s theory
Drafting jury instructions
Preparing opening and closing arguments

A strong trial defense is built through preparation long before the first witness takes the stand.

Tom brings decades of courtroom experience, a direct presentation style, and a willingness to challenge unsupported or unfair accusations.

Sentencing and Mitigation

When a conviction occurs by plea or after trial, sentencing becomes a critical stage of the case.

The defense may present information concerning:

The client’s background and character
Employment and family responsibilities
Lack of criminal history
Treatment and counseling
Sobriety or recovery
Restitution
Community involvement
Medical or mental-health circumstances
Acceptance of responsibility
The circumstances surrounding the offense
Alternatives to incarceration

Effective mitigation can help the court understand the person rather than viewing the client only through the charged conduct.

Depending on the offense and circumstances, potential sentencing alternatives may include probation, treatment, community service, restorative-justice programs, home detention, work release, or other community-based options.

Collateral Consequences of a Criminal Case

The consequences of a case may extend beyond jail, probation, or fines.

A criminal record or conviction may affect:

Employment and background checks
Professional licenses
Housing applications
College admissions
Financial aid
Immigration status
Firearm rights
Security clearances
Military service
Parenting and family-law matters
Driving privileges
Insurance
Travel

A plea that appears favorable based only on the criminal sentence may carry serious consequences elsewhere. Those risks should be identified before a final decision is made.

Criminal Record Sealing

Some Colorado criminal records may qualify for sealing. Eligibility depends on the outcome, type of offense, criminal history, completion of the sentence, and applicable waiting period.

Record sealing restricts public access but does not destroy the records. Law-enforcement agencies and certain authorized organizations may retain access.

Depending on the case, sealing may be available for:

Arrests that did not result in charges
Cases that were dismissed
Acquittals
Successfully completed diversion cases
Successfully completed deferred judgments
Certain eligible convictions
Multiple eligible conviction records

Not every conviction can be sealed, and different procedures and waiting periods apply. Current Judicial Branch guidance instructs applicants to confirm eligibility, satisfy the applicable waiting period, obtain a criminal-history report, provide notice, and be prepared for a possible hearing.

Tom assists clients in evaluating eligibility and pursuing the sealing of qualifying Colorado criminal records.

Pre-Filing, Trial, and Post-Case Representation

South Denver Law handles criminal-defense matters at many stages, including:

Pre-filing investigations
Police-contact and interview advice
Arrest and bond proceedings
Felony charges
Misdemeanor charges
Domestic-violence cases
Assault and harassment allegations
Theft and property offenses
Drug charges
Weapons allegations
Protection-order matters
Probation violations
Motions and suppression hearings
Plea negotiations
Jury and court trials
Sentencing
Record sealing
Post-conviction and related matters when appropriate

Honest Advice and Personal Representation

Tom believes that clients deserve direct and realistic advice. He explains the strengths and weaknesses of the case, the potential risks, the available options, and the consequences of each major decision.

No criminal defense attorney can ethically promise a dismissal, acquittal, or particular sentence. Tom does promise to prepare carefully, communicate honestly, and advocate personally for each client.

When you hire South Denver Law, you are not hiring an attorney who intends to remain distant from your case. Tom works directly with clients, keeps them informed, and stands with them through each important stage of the process.

Experienced Colorado Criminal Defense

A criminal charge can make a person feel as though the government, the police, and the court system have already reached a conclusion. They have not.

The accused remains entitled to the presumption of innocence, due process, competent representation, and the opportunity to challenge the prosecution’s case.

Since 1992, Tom has defended clients facing criminal accusations in Denver, Parker, Castle Rock, Centennial, Littleton, and courts throughout the surrounding Colorado communities.

Whether the matter involves an active investigation, a misdemeanor summons, a serious felony, a protection order, or an old record that may qualify for sealing, prompt legal advice can protect important rights and prevent avoidable mistakes.

Contact the law office of Thomas A Ramunda Jr. to discuss a criminal investigation, felony, misdemeanor, protection order, or record-sealing matter.

Law Practice Areas

Criminal Defense