Boulder Misdemeanor Lawyers — Misdemeanor Defense in Boulder County
A misdemeanor conviction in Boulder carries up to 364 days in county jail, fines, probation, and a permanent criminal record that appears in background checks for employment, housing, and professional licensing. In Boulder’s professional community — healthcare, law, education, financial services — a misdemeanor conviction can affect licensing and career advancement in ways that far outlast the sentence. For CU students, a misdemeanor conviction can trigger the university conduct process and affect academic standing alongside the criminal case. Burnham Law’s Boulder misdemeanor defense attorneys take every case seriously, pursuing dismissal, diversion, and the best available outcome across the full range of misdemeanor charges in Boulder County.
Meet our Boulder criminal defense team below — attorneys experienced in misdemeanor defense throughout Boulder County.
Jeremy Wooten, is a seasoned trial attorney who specializes in criminal defense and family law, leveraging a wealth of experience honed over five years at the Colorado State Public Defenders’ Office. Rising to Senior Deputy Public Defender, he successfully managed a diverse caseload, including serious charges like first-degree homicide, drug distribution, and economic crimes, always maintaining an unwavering commitment to client advocacy. Licensed in both Texas and Colorado, Jeremy's legal expertise is defined by strategic planning—meticulously crafting and executing well-thought-out trial strategies—and remarkable resourcefulness in finding innovative solutions to complex legal challenges in both the criminal and family law arenas. His practice is characterized by agile, client-centered advocacy, which relies on adaptability, active listening, and quick thinking essential for effective trial work. Jeremy prioritizes thoroughly understanding his clients' objectives and adapting his strategies dynamically to the evolving nature of trials. His resilience and strategic agility allow him to confidently navigate unexpected developments in the courtroom, ensuring each case is expertly...
Julian Rosielle has been licensed to practice law in Colorado since 2006. Julian is a graduate of the University of Colorado School of Law, where he was on the Dean’s List and an associate editor of the University of Colorado Law Review. Julian practiced exclusively in the area of criminal law for the first thirteen years of his career and has several notable case outcomes to include not guilty verdicts on charges of homicide and assault. Julian has extensive trial experience, ranging from Death Penalty cases to misdemeanor domestic violence to driving under the influence. Beginning in 2019, Julian’s practice has expanded to include domestic relations litigation and civil protection orders. Julian has lived in Colorado since 2004 and when not in Court enjoys hiking with his family and dogs.
Kate strives to have a client-oriented practice where she can assist her clients in all stages of litigation. Prior to joining Burnham, Kate was an associate at an AmLaw Firm where she worked on various types of complex litigation representing large corporations, municipalities, and individuals. Before going into private practice, Kate was an Assistant Public Defender in Miami-Dade County where she tried over twenty cases. Kate has been able to develop a well-rounded practice by working in both the private and public sectors. Kate has honed her skill sets from her prior experience so she can be a zealous advocate for her clients. In her spare time, Kate enjoys spending time with her husband in the outdoors, traveling, and visiting family.
Miguel C. Mondragon is a tenacious and dedicated attorney who is fiercely committed to his clients and their legal outcomes. Recognizing that clients facing divorce or criminal charges are often in their most vulnerable state, Miguel acts as a passionate advocate, ensuring they have a voice within the legal system. Growing up in southern Colorado, Miguel developed a strong work ethic by working in construction, lumber, and brickyards while attending college. Before becoming an attorney, his interest in law was sparked by his work within the Larimer County Corrections system. While attending the University of South Dakota School of Law, he gained valuable experience working with East River Legal Services, the Colorado State Public Defenders Office, and Samuelson Law. Upon graduation, Miguel honed his skills first as a solo practitioner, then at Weaver & Associates, P.C., before founding Mondragon Law, where he specialized in criminal defense and family law. He brings this deep experience and tenacity to his current role...
Misdemeanor Charges in Colorado
Colorado classifies misdemeanors into three classes. Class 1 misdemeanors — the most serious — carry up to 364 days in county jail and up to $1,000 in fines. They include first-offense DUI, assault causing bodily injury, theft between $300 and $750, and driving under restraint. Class 2 misdemeanors carry up to 120 days in jail and fines up to $750, covering offenses like harassment, reckless driving, and criminal mischief in the $300–$750 range. Class 3 misdemeanors carry lesser penalties and include lower-level traffic offenses and minor criminal matters.
Boulder’s demographics create some misdemeanor categories that arise with specific frequency in this jurisdiction. Alcohol-related misdemeanors — DUI, MIP (minor in possession), public intoxication — arise regularly given the university population and Boulder’s active nightlife culture. Assault and harassment charges arising from interpersonal conflicts in bars and social settings. Drug possession misdemeanors, particularly in the student population. And a category of misdemeanor charges — harassment, stalking, criminal impersonation — that arises from the complex social and relationship dynamics of a large university community.
For professionals in Boulder, the collateral consequences of misdemeanor convictions demand serious attention. Healthcare workers, teachers, attorneys, financial advisors, and engineers all face profession-specific licensing board inquiries triggered by criminal convictions. A misdemeanor involving violence, dishonesty, or controlled substances can affect virtually any professional license. These consequences are often more enduring than the criminal sentence itself, and defense strategy must address them explicitly from the start.
What Our Boulder Misdemeanor Defense Attorneys Do
Evaluate suppression and dismissal: Misdemeanor charges are sometimes filed on insufficient evidence, one-sided accounts of disputed incidents, or following constitutional violations that make key evidence inadmissible. We evaluate every case for suppression and dismissal options immediately.
Pursue diversion for eligible clients: The 20th Judicial District has active diversion programs for eligible misdemeanor defendants, particularly for first-time offenders and cases involving substances or underlying mental health issues. Successful diversion completion results in dismissal. We identify eligibility early and advocate aggressively for our clients’ acceptance.
Manage CU parallel proceedings: For student clients, a misdemeanor arrest can trigger CU’s conduct process alongside the criminal case. We advise on how to navigate both processes and develop strategy that protects academic standing while defending the criminal charge.
Negotiate professional-consequence-aware plea agreements: When dismissal or diversion is not available, we negotiate plea agreements with explicit attention to professional licensing consequences — structuring outcomes to avoid the specific conviction types that trigger the most serious licensing board reactions.
Try cases when the facts support it: Some Boulder misdemeanor cases should go to trial. When the evidence is weak, when constitutional violations affected the case, or when the client has a strong factual defense, we try these cases in Boulder County courts.
How Misdemeanor Cases Work in Boulder County
Misdemeanor cases in Boulder are typically handled in Boulder County Court for most Class 1, 2, and 3 misdemeanor offenses not connected to pending felony charges. The case begins with an arraignment where the defendant enters a plea, followed by a pre-trial conference where potential resolution is discussed with the prosecution. Most Boulder misdemeanor cases resolve at or before the pre-trial conference stage through diversion, negotiated plea, or dismissal.
The 20th Judicial District’s active use of diversion programs creates meaningful opportunities for first-time and appropriate repeat misdemeanor defendants to avoid convictions entirely. Boulder County’s diversion programs — particularly those focused on substance use and mental health — align with the community’s rehabilitative orientation and are actively used by this DA’s office. Identifying eligibility and effectively advocating for acceptance into diversion is often the highest-value action a defense attorney can take on a Boulder misdemeanor case.
Cases that don’t resolve through diversion or plea proceed to trial. Misdemeanor trials in Boulder County are bench trials for Class 3 misdemeanors and jury trials for Class 1 and 2. The prosecution must prove every element beyond a reasonable doubt, and the full rules of evidence apply.
Why Burnham Law for Misdemeanor Defense in Boulder
Boulder diversion program knowledge. We know the 20th Judicial District’s diversion programs — who is eligible, what the process involves, and how to advocate effectively for our clients’ acceptance. Diversion is often the best available outcome on a Boulder misdemeanor case for eligible defendants.
Professional licensing consequence awareness. Boulder’s professional community faces specific licensing board consequences from misdemeanor convictions that require explicit attention in defense strategy. We address these consequences directly in every case involving a licensed professional.
CU student dual-process navigation. We advise CU student clients on both the criminal defense and the parallel university conduct implications, developing coordinated strategy that protects academic standing alongside the criminal record.
Taking Boulder misdemeanors seriously. In Boulder, the consequences of a misdemeanor conviction — particularly for the professional and university communities — are disproportionate to the criminal level of the charge. We invest in misdemeanor defense accordingly.
What is Boulder County’s diversion program for misdemeanors?
The 20th Judicial District’s diversion programs allow eligible first-time or appropriate low-level misdemeanor defendants to complete a supervised period with specific requirements — community service, counseling, education, or other conditions depending on the offense — in exchange for dismissal of the charge upon successful completion. Diversion avoids a conviction on the record and preserves eligibility for record sealing later. Boulder County’s diversion programs reflect the 20th Judicial District’s rehabilitative orientation and are actively offered to eligible defendants, particularly in alcohol, drug, and first-time offense cases.
How does a misdemeanor affect a CU student at the university?
Whether a misdemeanor arrest or conviction affects a student’s CU standing depends on whether the conduct falls within the university’s jurisdiction and whether it implicates the Student Code of Conduct. Off-campus conduct can trigger the conduct process if it involves another student, occurs at a university-affiliated event, or the university determines it affects the campus community. The conduct process operates under its own standards and can result in probation, suspension, or expulsion independent of the criminal outcome. We navigate both processes for CU student clients.
Can a misdemeanor affect my professional license in Colorado?
Yes — and the specific impact depends on the profession and the conviction. Healthcare workers, attorneys, teachers, financial advisors, and licensed contractors all face profession-specific licensing board inquiries when criminal convictions are reported. A misdemeanor involving violence can affect healthcare and education licenses. A misdemeanor involving dishonesty or theft can affect financial and legal licenses. A drug misdemeanor can affect multiple categories of professional license. We advise clients in licensed professions on these consequences and structure defense strategy to minimize them.
Is Boulder more likely to offer diversion than other Colorado jurisdictions?
The 20th Judicial District has historically been more active in offering diversion and alternative dispositions than some other Colorado DA offices. Boulder’s community culture, the influence of CU’s presence, and the DA’s office’s rehabilitative orientation all contribute to a more active diversion practice. However, eligibility for diversion is not automatic — it depends on the offense type, the defendant’s history, and the specific circumstances. Having an attorney who knows how this DA’s office evaluates diversion applications for specific charge types is valuable in pursuing that outcome.
What misdemeanor convictions cannot be sealed in Colorado?
DUI and DWAI convictions cannot be sealed in Colorado regardless of age. Class 1 misdemeanor traffic offenses are not sealable. Convictions for offenses involving unlawful sexual behavior have sealing restrictions. Beyond these specific categories, most other Colorado misdemeanor convictions can be sealed after applicable waiting periods — 2 years for Class 2 and 3 misdemeanors, 3 years for Class 1 misdemeanors — following completion of the sentence.
Schedule a Consultation with a Boulder Misdemeanor Lawyer
A misdemeanor charge in Boulder deserves serious attention — the consequences for professionals, students, and community members here are real and lasting. Burnham Law’s Boulder misdemeanor defense attorneys will fight for the best available outcome in your case.
Call (303) 990-5308 or schedule a confidential consultation online. We defend misdemeanor charges throughout Boulder County.
