Denver Assault Lawyer

Experienced Assault Attorney in Denver, UT

In Colorado, assault is a violent crime that can be charged as a misdemeanor or a felony. An assault charge might arise from misunderstandings, accidents, mutual violence, or other circumstances. No matter your situation, you need a Denver assault lawyer to help you defend yourself against charges. This helps protect your future and your freedom. An attorney helps you understand your legal options and defenses.

Work With Blackley & Wingad for Your Denver Assault Attorney

When you face serious assault charges, you need a legal defense team that offers understanding and support alongside an aggressive and diligent defense prepared for trial. At Blackley & Wingad, we offer this legal defense. We know how overwhelming the system can be and want to help you safeguard your rights.

Our attorneys have decades of trial experience in criminal defense law, including work in over 100 trials in many high-stakes criminal cases. We have experience in many local courts, including the 2nd Judicial District serving Denver and Denver County. Our attorneys also have significant pretrial experience and worked for years as public defenders in Florida.

We are focused on litigating cases to better protect your interests. Your defense attorneys will challenge the prosecution’s case, take action to suppress illegal evidence, and advocate for you in trial. Our team adapts to the needs of each client, providing flexible defense and a high standard of legal representation.

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Assault Offenses in Denver

The Denver Police Department reported 4,723 aggravated assault offenses in 2025. In Denver County, there were a total of 4,741 aggravated assault offenses the same year. Some key information about offenses in the county included:

• 32.8% of offenses involved personal weapons, while 31.9% involved a firearm and 25.5% involved other dangerous weapons
• 34.7% of victims suffered no injuries, while 20.1% suffered another major injury other than severe lacerations, broken bones, tooth loss, unconsciousness, or gunshot wounds
• 45.0% of aggravated assault offenses occurred in a home or residence, and 36.8% occurred on roads, parking lots, or garages, and camps
• 27.7% of victims and perpetrators were intimate partners, 26.8% were strangers, and 17.8% were acquaintances

Assault offenses were the most frequently committed violent crime offense.

Third-Degree Assault

Assault in the third degree is a class 1 misdemeanor. It is charged in the following situations:

1. The accused recklessly or knowingly caused injury to someone else.
2. The accused caused injury to someone else using a deadly weapon through criminal negligence.
3. The accused threw, expelled, or otherwise caused a peace officer, emergency medical provider, or firefighter to come into contact with dangerous substances or bodily fluids, when the accused reasonably should have known that person was a professional, and was attempting to harass or threaten them.

Second-Degree Assault

Assault in the second degree can be charged as a class 6, class 4, or class 3 felony. Many circumstances can result in second-degree assault charges, including:

1. The accused caused a bodily injury to any person with a deadly weapon when the accused intended to cause that injury to a person.
2. The accused purposefully caused bodily injury or serious bodily injury to any person to try to prevent an emergency medical responder, peace officer, or firefighter from performing lawful duties.
3. The accused acted recklessly with a deadly weapon and caused serious bodily injury to another person.
4. The accused intentionally and violently acted with physical force against a firefighter, emergency medical provider, or peace officer while the accused was lawfully in custody or confined.
5. The accused intended to cause another person bodily injury and caused them or a third party serious bodily injury.

There are many other reasons that a second-degree assault charge might be filed.

First-Degree Assault

Assault in the first degree is a class 5 or class 3 felony. This offense occurs in the following situations:

1. The accused intended to cause someone serious bodily injury and caused that injury to that person or any other person using a deadly weapon.
2. The accused intended to disfigure or disable another person and caused the injury to any person.
3. The accused knowingly acted in a way that created a risk of death to another person that resulted in serious injury, and the conduct showed indifference to the value of human life.
4. The accused intended to cause serious bodily injury to a firefighter, emergency medical provider, judge, officer of the court, or peace officer. They threatened that professional with a deadly weapon while the party was completing lawful duties, and the accused knew or reasonably should have known the party was one of those professionals.

There are many other circumstances where first-degree assault is charged, including assault by strangulation.

What Are the Penalties for Assault in Denver?

The penalties for a conviction for assault in Denver include:

• Class 1 misdemeanor. A conviction for third-degree assault results in up to 364 days in jail, a fine up to $1,000, or both.
• Class 6 felony. This is changed for a second-degree assault conviction that occurred in a moment of passion and because of provocation, and results in between one year and 18 months in prison and between $1,000 and $100,000 in fines
• Class 5 felony. When a first-degree assault conviction happens because of passion and provocation, it is charged as a class 5 felony. This carries a term of imprisonment of one to three years and a fine between $1,000 and $100,000.
• Class 4 felony. This is the charge for basic second-degree assault. It results in two years to six years of imprisonment and a fine between $2,000 and $500,000.
• Class 3 felony. This is the penalty for a conviction for a basic first-degree assault charge. Second-degree assault becomes a class 3 felony when the offense occurred as the accused was committing, trying to commit, or fleeing from specific criminal offenses like murder, arson, or sexual assault. A class 3 felony results in between four and 12 years of imprisonment and a fine of between $3,000 and $750,000.

In addition to these immediate consequences on your finances and your freedom, a conviction has many other collateral consequences. You could lose your job and your home while incarcerated. Having a criminal record can prevent you from securing housing, employment, educational opportunities, and professional licenses.

Why Should You Hire an Assault Lawyer in Denver?

You should hire an assault lawyer in Denver to protect your future. Assault charges can have lifelong consequences. You could end up in jail for months or in prison for years and face substantial fines.

Even after serving a criminal sentence, there are consequences for your life, including your employment, your housing, and your professional opportunities. Some of these consequences come from being imprisoned, while others occur because of having a criminal record.

The most effective way to avoid the severe and long-term consequences of a criminal conviction is to avoid being convicted. Working with a criminal defense lawyer gives you the strongest chance of avoiding the full consequences of an assault conviction — an experienced attorney can negotiate a plea deal, push for reduced charges, challenge the evidence against you, and work to keep the case off your criminal record, or get the charges dismissed entirely.

Your attorney assesses the options you have for defense based on the specifics of your unique situation. They help you understand your situation and prepare you for the criminal justice system.

FAQs

How Much Does a Lawyer Cost for an Assault Defense?

The cost of a lawyer for an assault defense will depend on the lawyer you hire and the details of your criminal case. A more serious offense like a first-degree charge may cost more, because more time and work are generally needed to build a defense. Criminal defense attorneys usually charge hourly rates, and this rate relies on their experience, the complexity of your case, and the attorney’s location.

Can Assault Charges Be Dropped in Colorado?

Yes, assault charges could be dropped in Colorado if the prosecution does not have enough evidence to file or pursue its case. A strong defense improves the chances of a dropped assault case. Your defense can assess the weaknesses in the prosecution’s case. If evidence was gathered by violating your rights, that evidence could be suppressed, making it harder for the prosecution to meet the burden of proof.

What Are the Elements of Assault in Colorado?

The elements of a basic assault offense in Colorado are that a person recklessly or knowingly causes injury to someone else. Assault also occurs when bodily injury happens because the person had a deadly weapon and acted with criminal negligence. There are many other circumstances where assault can be charged in Colorado, and not all require the same elements. If you are unsure what charges you face, an experienced attorney can assess your situation.

What Is the Punishment for Assault in Colorado?

The punishment for assault in Colorado ranges from a class 1 misdemeanor up to a class 3 felony. This depends on the level of assault being charged and the aggravating factors present in that offense. A class 1 misdemeanor carries up to 364 days in jail and a fine of $1,000 as a penalty. A class 3 felony carries between four and 12 years of imprisonment and a fine of between $3,000 and $750,000.

Navigating Your Assault Case With Exceptional Defense Attorneys

At Blackley & Wingad, we use our years of trial experience to advocate for you. Reach out to our team today.