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Criminal Defense Attorneys in Centennial, CO

Charged with DUI, drug possession, or assault in Centennial? Your case will move through Arapahoe County courts. A Colorado-licensed criminal defense attorney practicing there will review your charges for free.

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How we match your Centennial criminal defense case

When you submit a Centennial criminal defense matter, we route it through a national network of independent partner firms and put it in front of the one that fits best — based on the kind of case it is, what it is likely to involve, where it has to be handled, and who has capacity to take it on now.

  1. Case type

    A criminal defense matter needs someone who handles criminal defense work day to day, not a generalist. Practice area is the first filter.

  2. Size and complexity

    Some firms are built for catastrophic injury and multi-party litigation; others resolve straightforward claims quickly. We weigh what your matter is likely to involve against how each firm actually works.

  3. Jurisdiction and licensing

    Your matter is decided under Colorado law, so it goes to an attorney licensed in Colorado who regularly appears where your case would be heard.

  4. Capacity and fit

    Availability, conflicts of interest and language all matter. If the best-fit firm cannot take your case, we route it to the next one that can — or tell you plainly when no one in the network is the right answer.

Every partner reviews your case for free. Injury and workers’ compensation matters are handled on contingency — no fee unless you win. Other matters are quoted upfront, before you commit to anything.

DearLegal provides marketing and matching services and is not a law firm. Submitting a case does not create an attorney-client relationship. Matches depend on case type, jurisdiction and firm availability.

Criminal Defense cases in Centennial

More about legal help in Centennial

Centennial is policed largely by the Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office under contract, and traffic enforcement along Arapahoe Road, Parker Road, I-25, and E-470 drives a steady stream of DUI and driving cases, alongside retail theft reports around The Streets at SouthGlenn and domestic and drug allegations. Felony cases are heard in Arapahoe County District Court, while misdemeanors and traffic matters typically start in county court, both at the justice center in Centennial. Early decisions about statements and bond conditions shape everything after. DearLegal matches you with a Colorado-licensed attorney who handles criminal defense cases in Centennial, with a free review.

  • Centennial cases move through the Arapahoe County courts, with felonies in district court and misdemeanors and traffic offenses in county court.
  • Law enforcement in Centennial is provided under contract with the Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office, alongside state patrol on the highways.
  • Charges filed just across the line in Douglas County or Denver proceed in a different courthouse before a different prosecutor's office.

Colorado criminal defense rules at a glance

Centennial cases run under Colorado law. The full walkthrough — timeline, when to call, case types, and what a recovery can include — is on the Colorado page.

Read the full Colorado criminal defense guide →
Felony Statute of Limitations

No limit

No limit for murder, kidnapping, treason, and most sex offenses; 3 years for most felonies (C.R.S. § 16-5-401)

Misdemeanor Statute of Limitations

18 months

18 months for most misdemeanors (C.R.S. § 16-5-401(1)(a)(II))

Sentencing Structure

Presumptive sentencing

Presumptive sentencing under C.R.S. § 18-1.3-401, with extraordinary mitigating/aggravating ranges; mandatory aggravated terms for crimes of violence (C.R.S. § 18-1.3-406)

Expungement / Record Sealing

Clean Slate

Clean Slate Act (HB 22-1326, C.R.S. § 24-72-701 et seq., 2022) — automatic sealing of many misdemeanors and Class 4/5/6 felonies after waiting periods; petition-based sealing for others under C.R.S. § 24-72-705/706

Bail / Pretrial Release

Bail set

Bail set under C.R.S. § 16-4-101 et seq.; HB 21-1280 (2021) eliminated cash bail for many low-level offenses; Colorado Pretrial Risk Assessment Tool used statewide

Typical attorney fee

Hourly

Hourly / Flat Fee

Exhibit D

How much do Centennial criminal defense attorneys cost?

Typical fee schedule

Colorado · Criminal Defense

Fee modelHourly / Flat Fee
Feequoted per petition or matter
Filing costsitemized upfront
Case reviewFree

Illustrative only. Your fee terms are set in a written agreement with your attorney and may include costs and expenses regardless of outcome.

Criminal Defense matters in Colorado are usually a flat fee per filing — quoted before you commit, not billed by the hour.

Criminal defense attorneys in Colorado work on hourly or flat-fee retainers — contingency fees are prohibited in criminal cases under Colo. RPC 1.5(d) and ABA Model Rule 1.5(d). Misdemeanors and most felonies are flat-fee; complex cases (homicide, sex offenses with lifetime supervision, federal, multi-count) use hourly billing with substantial retainers. The Colorado Office of the State Public Defender represents indigent defendants statewide and is regarded as one of the strongest PD offices in the country.

A good attorney walks through every number at your free consultation — before you sign anything.

Start my free case reviewTakes about two minutes. No obligation.

Exhibit F

Centennial criminal defense questions, answered

Still unsure? Tell us what happened and a Colorado attorney will review it for free.

Felony charges are prosecuted in Arapahoe County District Court, while misdemeanors, petty offenses, and most traffic matters begin in county court. Some charges can be amended between the two as the case develops. An attorney can tell you which track you are on and what each first appearance actually decides.
You are not required to, and informal explanations frequently become the strongest evidence against the person who gave them. You can decline to answer questions and ask for a lawyer. Talk to a Colorado defense attorney first so any communication with law enforcement happens on your terms.
Most cases stay in Colorado state court, but certain firearm, drug distribution, and fraud allegations can draw federal charges, which follow different procedures and sentencing rules. The signals are not always obvious early on. An attorney can assess whether federal exposure is realistic in your case.
No. Politely decline and ask for a lawyer. Colorado law enforcement — Denver PD, Colorado State Patrol, sheriffs’ deputies — use sophisticated interrogation techniques. Anything you say can be used at trial. Invoke your Fifth Amendment right to silence and your right to counsel under Miranda and Colorado v. Spring.
Yes. Colorado misdemeanors (HB 21-1209 restructured them) carry up to 364 days in county jail for Class 1 misdemeanors and up to $1,000 fines. Many county and city courts offer diversion programs that can be negotiated to keep your record clean. Convictions trigger collateral consequences including federal firearm bans for DV offenses under 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(9).

Criminal Defense attorneys by city in Colorado

Same Colorado rules and the same attorneys — with what’s local to each city.

Other case types in Centennial

All Centennial practice areas →