Federal Misdemeanors

The Federal Government prosecutes misdemeanor and petty offense in the United States Magistrate Court. Court sessions in Colorado for these cases are held every other month. This means if you are charged with one of these violations, you will have to appear in court in front of a magistrate judge for the District of Colorado. Examples of federal misdemeanor crimes typical in Colorado include DUI in national parks or other federal land such as military bases, trespassing, theft, marijuana possession, game and fish or wildlife violations, and some violations occurring on airplanes or airports. Usually, federal misdemeanor charges stem from conduct that occurs on federal property. There are some federal crimes that are misdemeanors even if they do not occur on federal land. A list of possible federal misdemeanor crimes can be found here.

Some of these violations can have serious consequences. Federal misdemeanors are categorized by class. The penalties for these are as follows: Class A misdemeanors are punishable by up to 12 months imprisonment, Class B misdemeanors are punishable by up to six months imprisonment Class C misdemeanors are punishable by up to 30 days imprisonment. There are also infractions sometimes called petty offenses, and these have no jail or up to 5 days of jail.

If you have contact with law enforcement regarding a federal misdemeanor you should not speak with them without an attorney. You always have the right to remain silent, or have an attorney present when law enforcement questions you. You also should not consent to a search of any type, including giving consent to a search of your car, your phone, or your residence. Law enforcement may tell you that they want a statement from you to get “both sides of the story”. However, this is rarely the case. Usually, law enforcement wants to question you to obtain incriminating evidence, and it’s always best to only submit to questioning from law enforcement with an attorney present.

If you are charged with a federal misdemeanor or petty offense it can be difficult to understand the process. Some of the citations for these violations are issued out of a Washington DC office, and you may receive the citation or summons through the mail. Though this process seems informal, it can have the same force and impact as if an officer of law enforcement had arrested you on the offense. Failure to appear on one of these citations could result in an arrest warrant being issued.

I have been representing people charged with federal misdemeanors, infractions, and petty offenses for more than 30 years. If you are charged with one of these violations, it’s important for you to retain an attorney experienced in handling these cases. Whether you intend to have your case heard at a jury trial, or you’d like to negotiate a favorable resolution of the case, I can help.

If you are under investigation for or have already been charged with a federal misdemeanor offense call my office or send a message through this website for a free initial consultation. My office number is (303) 228-2270,