Colorado Springs Theft Lawyer
Facing Theft Charges in Colorado Springs? Act Fast to Protect Your Future
A theft charge in Colorado Springs can cost you your job, your housing, and your professional licenses before your case ever reaches trial. Under Colorado law, theft of property valued at $2,000 or more is a felony that carries possible prison time, substantial fines, and a permanent criminal record. Even a petty theft under $300 can mean up to 10 days in county jail and a fine of up to $300.
The 4th Judicial District Attorney's Office prosecutes theft at every level. Diversion for first-time offenders is available only at the discretion of the District Attorney, and the earlier a defense attorney is involved, the better the chance of being considered for it. Every day without legal representation narrows your options.
Colorado Springs Criminal Defense, LLC fights to get theft charges reduced or dismissed. Attorney Aaron P. Gaddis provides free consultations with no obligation for every theft case.
Call (719) 578-3344 now for your free consultation. Early action protects your defense options and your eligibility for alternatives to prosecution.
Why Colorado Springs Trusts Colorado Springs Criminal Defense, LLC
Licensed in Colorado and practicing criminal defense since 2006
Free initial consultations to evaluate your case and outline a clear strategy
Located at 10 Boulder Crescent Street, Ste. 301, a short walk from the El Paso County Combined Courts
Attorney Gaddis appears regularly in the El Paso County Combined Courts, where most local theft cases are heard, and also handles cases in Teller, Pueblo, and Fremont Counties
Why Colorado Springs Chooses Aaron P. Gaddis for Theft Defense
What separates this firm is direct access to the attorney handling your case. You work with Aaron P. Gaddis personally, not paralegals or junior staff. The person reviewing your evidence, negotiating with prosecutors, and standing next to you in court is the same person you spoke with on your first call.
Experience across every theft classification: From shoplifting to felony embezzlement, Attorney Gaddis handles theft cases at every level under C.R.S. § 18-4-401, Colorado's theft statute.
Constitutional rights protection: Many theft arrests raise Fourth Amendment questions about how evidence was gathered. Years as a public defender taught Attorney Gaddis how prosecutors build these cases and where they break down when cross-examining the prosecution's evidence or challenging an unlawful search or seizure.
Local court knowledge: Attorney Gaddis knows the 4th Judicial District's prosecutors, court procedures, and diversion program requirements from years of practice in the El Paso County Combined Courts.
Our Colorado Springs Theft Defense Services
Colorado theft charges range from a petty offense for taking a $20 item from a store to a class 2 felony for theft involving property valued at $1 million or more. The classification depends on the value of the property or services involved. Here is how we defend each category.
Petty Theft and Shoplifting Defense
Petty theft involves property valued under $300. Under C.R.S. § 18-4-401, it is a petty offense carrying up to 10 days in county jail and a fine of up to $300. Theft between $300 and $1,000 is a class 2 misdemeanor (up to 120 days in jail and a $750 fine), and theft between $1,000 and $2,000 is a class 1 misdemeanor (up to 364 days in jail and a $1,000 fine).
For first-time offenders, the 4th Judicial District offers a diversion program that can end in dismissal after the terms of a diversion contract are met. Terms commonly include restitution, community service, and classes. We raise diversion eligibility early, negotiate with prosecutors as soon as possible, and work to keep your record clean. Shoplifting cases make up a large share of Colorado Springs theft charges, and early legal counsel is often what separates a dismissed case from a conviction.
Felony Theft and Grand Theft Defense
What many people call grand theft is simply felony theft under Colorado law, and it begins when the value involved reaches $2,000. The stakes climb with the value:
$2,000 to under $5,000: class 6 felony, 1 year to 18 months in prison and a fine of $1,000 to $100,000
$5,000 to under $20,000: class 5 felony, 1 to 3 years and a fine of $1,000 to $100,000
$20,000 to under $100,000: class 4 felony, 2 to 6 years and a fine of $2,000 to $500,000
$100,000 to under $1 million: class 3 felony, 4 to 12 years and a fine of $3,000 to $750,000
$1 million or more: class 2 felony, 8 to 24 years and a fine of $5,000 to $1,000,000
Because the entire charge level turns on value, challenging the prosecution's valuation is one of the most effective tools we have. If the property has been overvalued, we contest the assessment to push the charge below a felony threshold. Negotiated restitution can also open the door to reduced charges, and we pursue every path to bring a felony down to a misdemeanor when the evidence allows.
Embezzlement is charged as theft in Colorado. These cases involve funds entrusted to the accused and often hinge on financial records and whether the prosecution can prove intent to permanently deprive. They overlap with white collar crime defense, and we apply the same forensic scrutiny to the financial evidence.
Burglary Defense
Burglary means unlawfully entering or remaining in a building with intent to commit a crime inside. Colorado charges burglary separately from any underlying theft, so you can face two sets of penalties. Under C.R.S. § 18-4-202, first-degree burglary, which involves a deadly weapon or an assault during the entry, is a class 3 felony. Second-degree burglary of a dwelling is also a class 3 felony, and second-degree burglary of other buildings is a class 4 felony.
We challenge the intent evidence and the circumstances of entry. If prosecutors cannot prove you knowingly entered without authorization with intent to commit a crime, the burglary charge fails.
Auto Theft Defense
Colorado rewrote its motor vehicle theft law in 2023. Under the current version of C.R.S. § 18-4-409, penalties no longer depend on the value of the vehicle. Every degree of motor vehicle theft is a felony:
Third degree (no aggravating factor): class 5 felony
Second degree (an aggravating factor such as keeping the vehicle more than 24 hours, altering the VIN, taking it out of state, or using it in another crime): class 4 felony
First degree (two or more prior motor vehicle theft or unauthorized use convictions): class 3 felony
The same 2023 law created a separate, lesser offense of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, a class 1 misdemeanor for a first offense. Where the facts fit, moving a case from felony theft to misdemeanor unauthorized use changes everything. Defense strategies also center on authorization and identity: if you reasonably believed you had permission to use the vehicle, or the case rests on a shaky identification of the driver, we investigate the authorization dispute, review surveillance footage, and challenge the identification procedures.
Identity theft, which involves using another person's personal identifying information for gain, is a class 4 felony under C.R.S. § 18-5-902 and sometimes accompanies auto theft charges when forged documents are involved. We defend the full range of theft crimes connected to your case.
How Our Theft Defense Process Works
A theft case follows a defined sequence: arrest or summons, first appearance and arraignment, pretrial proceedings, and resolution. Here is what happens at each stage when you hire us.
Step 1: Free Consultation and Case Review
Call as soon as you are arrested, cited, or contacted by police or store security. Speaking with an attorney before making any statement protects your rights. You have the right to remain silent, and you should use it. During your free consultation, we review the charging documents, the circumstances of the arrest, and the prosecution's valuation of the property, and we explain your options in plain language. That includes whether you are a candidate for the 4th Judicial District's adult diversion program.
Step 2: Building Your Defense
Evidence is exchanged during the pretrial discovery process. We obtain police reports, surveillance footage, witness statements, and chain-of-custody records, and we test every piece of evidence the prosecution plans to use. If police conducted an unlawful search, we file motions to suppress. If the property valuation is inflated, we contest it. Throughout, we negotiate with prosecutors on plea options, charge reductions, and alternative sentencing.
Step 3: Resolution and Record Protection
Theft cases end through negotiated outcomes or trial. Most resolve one of three ways: charges dismissed, charges reduced (felony to misdemeanor, or misdemeanor to petty offense), or a plea agreement with favorable terms such as probation or community service instead of jail. After resolution, we advise on record sealing. Colorado law allows sealing of many theft convictions after a waiting period, which removes them from standard background checks. We guide you through that process so one charge does not define your future.
Our Theft Defense Results
Our track record in the El Paso County courts includes:
Felony charges reduced to misdemeanors through property valuation challenges and negotiated restitution
First-time shoplifting cases resolved through diversion, resulting in dismissal
Auto theft charges dropped after demonstrating authorization or mistaken identity
Clients avoiding jail time through alternative sentencing and community service
Each case is different, and prior results do not guarantee future outcomes. But having an experienced defense attorney consistently puts you in a stronger position than facing the system alone.
What Our Theft Defense Clients Say
We encourage prospective clients to ask about how similar cases have been handled during their free consultation. Clients consistently point to three things: direct communication with Attorney Gaddis throughout the case, clear explanation of fees and strategy from the first meeting, and outcomes that protected their employment and housing.
Areas We Serve
Downtown Colorado Springs and Old Colorado City
Briargate, Northgate, and the Powers Corridor
Fountain, Security-Widefield, and Stratmoor Hills
Manitou Springs, Monument, Black Forest, and eastern El Paso County
Woodland Park, Cripple Creek, and Teller County
Pueblo and Pueblo County
Cañon City, Florence, and Fremont County
We handle cases in Colorado Springs Municipal Court, the El Paso County Combined Courts, the Teller County Combined Court in Cripple Creek, the Pueblo County Combined Courts, and the Fremont County Combined Courts in Cañon City. Whether your charge began at a retail store on North Academy or an incident off-post near Fort Carson, we represent clients across Southern Colorado.
Frequently Asked Questions About Colorado Springs Theft Charges
What should I do immediately after being arrested for theft in Colorado Springs?
Remain silent. You are not required to answer questions beyond identifying yourself. Anything you say can be used against you, and even innocent explanations can be reframed as admissions. If you are held in custody, a bond hearing takes place shortly after booking. Contact Colorado Springs Criminal Defense, LLC before your first court appearance. Early attorney involvement improves your chances of being considered for diversion and gives us time to build your defense.
Can theft charges be dismissed or reduced in El Paso County?
Yes. There are several paths. The 4th Judicial District Attorney's diversion program is aimed primarily at first-time offenders, and completing a diversion contract typically results in dismissal. For cases that do not qualify, we challenge the evidence, contest the property valuation, and negotiate plea agreements. Intent is the heart of a theft charge: the prosecution must prove you meant to permanently deprive the owner. An honest belief that you had permission, or that the property was yours, can defeat that element. Prior convictions affect what prosecutors will offer, so your history matters in these negotiations.
Will a theft conviction show up on background checks?
Yes. A theft conviction appears on criminal background checks unless and until the record is sealed. It can affect employment, housing, and professional licensing, and even a misdemeanor theft conviction can carry immigration consequences because theft is treated as a crime involving moral turpitude. Colorado allows sealing of most misdemeanor theft convictions and class 4, 5, and 6 felony theft convictions after a waiting period under C.R.S. § 24-72-706. Dismissed and diverted cases can be sealed immediately.
How much does a Colorado Springs theft lawyer cost?
Colorado Springs Criminal Defense, LLC provides free consultations with no obligation. We use flat fees for most misdemeanor theft cases, so you know the cost up front. Felony theft cases involving multiple counts, high property values, or trial preparation cost more because of the investigation, expert witnesses, and additional court appearances involved. Payment plans are available. We discuss all costs during your initial consultation so there are no surprises.
Protect Your Future: Contact Us Today
A theft conviction can mean jail or prison, fines ranging from $300 for a petty offense to as much as $1,000,000 for a class 2 felony, restitution, and lasting damage to your career and housing. The legal system does not wait, and neither should you.
Colorado Springs Criminal Defense, LLC Contact Information
Phone: (719) 578-3344
Address: 10 Boulder Crescent Street, Ste. 301, Colorado Springs, CO 80903
Online: Request a free consultation
Serving El Paso, Teller, Pueblo, and Fremont Counties
Call today for a clear case strategy from a criminal defense lawyer who knows the Colorado Springs courts.
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