Sanderson Law, P.C.

1. I'm being investigated or have been charged with a crime. Do I really need a lawyer?
- It's been said that doing your own legal work is like doing your own dental work: Having
professional help is usually much less painful. Our's is an adversary system, which means FBI,
police and prosecutors generally do not look for ways to help the accused. Talking to police,
etc., dealing with prosecutors and going to court without professional help can lead to all kinds
of bad and unpredictable consequences including more serious charges, blown defenses, friends
or family being arrested too, permanent criminal records, criminal conviction, jail or prison,
fines, court costs, and the loss of a host of civil rights, like voting or having firearms. Few
events in modern life are as traumatic, expensive and consequential as finding oneself in the

criminal justice system. Play it safe and smart, and consult a lawyer first.

2. The FBI or police want to talk to me about a crime they think I might have committed. Should I talk to them?
- No, not without consulting a lawyer first. Our client list is filled with people who thought they could talk their way out of it. If the police
want to talk to you, it's because they need more information to arrest or prosecute you. Don't give it to them. Also, be advised that "lying" to
the FBI or other federal agents can be a separate criminal offense. Click here for a short video on why you should NOT talk to the police.

3. I or my significant other was charged with domestic violence. The court issued a no contact order. Can we ignore it? What do we
have to do to get it lifted?
- Ignoring a no contact order by calling, talking to, emailing, or otherwise trying to contact the so-called protected person is a separate crime
and should not be done. Having another person contact the protected person is also prohibited. Getting the order lifted takes persistant effort
with the district attorney's office and court. Some DA's offices have a form the protected person may complete in order to facilitate the
process, which takes at least a week or two and sometimes 6 to 8 weeks or more. Once charges are filed, the decision to prosecute or not is
solely up to the DA.

4. I'm charged with a crime in state court and want to leave the state temporarily. Can I do this?
- If the court has ordered a bond and one is in effect, it is likely you cannot leave the state without court permission. Doing so could result in
a bond violation and jail.

5. What is the misdemeanor criminal process in Colorado? What is the felony criminal process?
- Misdemeanor process flowchart (click here for PDF version)
- Felony process flowchart (click here for PDF version)

6. How do lawyers charge for handling criminal cases?
- Generally lawyers handle criminal cases two ways, via a flat fee or an hourly fee. Flat fee means the lawyer charges a lump sum, or a
portion of a lump sum, to handle the case or parts of it. An hourly fee is when the lawyer bills for his time on the case. Contingency fees, i.e.
those that depend on the outcome of the criminal case, are prohibited. Your lawyer should give you a fee agreement explaining how his fee
works, together with how costs of the case, like copies, investigators, exhibits, etc. are handled.

7. How much should I expect to pay for a lawyer to defend my state criminal case?
- Obviously much depends on the facts of the case, the jurisdiction, your history, and whether the case goes to trial (most don't). For low
level misdemeanors, expect to pay $4,000-$10,000. For more serious misdemeanors and low level felonies, expect to pay $8,000-$20,000. You
should expect to pay at least $30,000 and sometimes well over for more serious felonies. Costs, like filing fees, expert witnesses, exhibits,
etc. can add $1,000-$5,000 or more.