A Highlands Ranch man accused of a home invasion robbery – as well as a string of other felonies – last year has pleaded guilty at his arraignment.

Castle Rock criminal defense lawyers understand that although shots were fired, no one was severely hurt, and authorities are saying the crime was drug-related.

The defendant, who was just 18 at the time of his arrest, was facing more than a dozen felony charges, including:

• First-degree kidnapping;
• Aggravated robbery;
• First-degree assault;
• Theft;
• Menacing.

As part of the plea agreement reached between defense and prosecutors, he pleaded guilty to aggravated robbery, committing a violent crime and menacing. The details of that plea agreement weren’t immediately released by prosecutors, but it’s fair to assume that he likely received less time than he would have if convicted on all original counts at trial.

Aggravated robbery, as defined in Colorado Revised Code 18-4-302, is a Class 3 felony. While a simple robbery involves the taking of something of value from someone else through force, threats or intimidation, aggravated robbery involves the additional element of a deadly weapon. As a violent crime, there is a mandatory enhanced sentence, which is twice the maximum term for that class of offense. So while a Class 3 felony may be punishable by 4 to 12 years in prison, with enhancements, a defendant could serve up to 16 years – on this single charge.

Kidnapping is an even more serious crime. Under Colorado Revised Code 18-3-301, first-degree kidnapping can involve any of the following scenarios:

1. Forcibly seizing or carrying a person from one place to another;
2. Enticing or persuading someone to go from one place to another;
3. Imprisoning or forcibly keeping a person.

This crime can be charged as a Class 2 or a Class 1 felony, depending on whether the person suffered injury. If the person was unharmed, it’s a Class 2 felony punishable by anywhere from 8 to 24 years in prison.

These are not situations in which you can rely on a public defender.

There may be some situations in which your attorney might press for a trial, but often, it comes down to a skilled negotiation of a favorable plea agreement.

If you have been in this cases, contact Ellmann & Ellmann‘s experienced Castle Rock Criminal Defense Lawyers at our Law Offices or Call us now: (303) 814-2600