Defendants Have All the Rights and Victims Have None? The Reality of Colorado’s Criminal Justice System By Ted McClintock, Colorado Criminal Defense Attorney Former Prosecutor and Former Chief of the Special Victims Unit One of the most common misconceptions about the criminal justice system is that defendants have all the rights while victims are ignored. It is a statement often repeated in the media, on social media, and even in courtrooms. While emotionally appealing, it i

Should You Talk to Police if You’re Innocent in Colorado? Most people believe innocent people should cooperate with police.That belief causes serious problems every day in Colorado criminal investigations. At Ted McClintock Law, many clients come to us after making the mistake of thinking: “I have nothing to hide.” Unfortunately, police interviews are not designed to “clear things up.” They are designed to gather evidence — and sometimes to obtain statements that can later be

How to Get Off the Sex Offender Registry in Colorado If you are required to register as a sex offender, you may feel like it’s a lifetime label. For many people, however, removal from the Colorado sex offender registry is possible—but the process is technical, and mistakes can delay or even prevent relief. At Ted McClintock, Attorney at Law, we regularly help clients evaluate whether they qualify for removal and guide them through the process the right way the first time. Can

By Ted McClintock, Colorado Springs Criminal Defense Attorney Most people assume police questioning happens in an interview room with Miranda warnings and a lawyer present. In reality, some of the most damaging statements are made on a phone call or over text—without you even realizing law enforcement is involved. These are called pretext calls and texts, and they are used regularly in Colorado investigations. ⚠️ What Is a Pretext Call or Text? A pretext communication is when

Domestic Violence and Sex Cases Explained By Ted McClintock, Attorney at Law This is one of the most common—and most misunderstood—questions I hear: “If the alleged victim doesn’t want to press charges, will the case go away?” In Colorado, the answer is almost always: No. The alleged victim cannot “drop charges.” And that surprises a lot of people. ⚖️ Who Actually Decides Whether Charges Move Forward? In Colorado, once a case is filed: The District Attorney—not the alleged vi

Can the Police Search Your Phone in Colorado Without a Warrant? By Ted McClintock – Colorado Criminal Defense Attorney 📞 719-520-3968 | 🌐 coloradocriminaldefense.com The Short Answer: No—police generally cannot search your phone without a warrant. But—and this is critical—they can sometimes seize it first and search it later. That distinction is where many cases are won or lost. The Landmark Case: Riley v. California The controlling law comes from the United States Supre

Can the Police Lie to You in Colorado? By Ted McClintock – Colorado Criminal Defense Attorney (Colorado Springs) Short answer: Yes. Police are legally allowed to lie to you during an investigation and interrogation. That includes lying about evidence, witnesses, and even what other people have said about you. These tactics are not accidental—they are trained, deliberate strategies designed to get statements. ⚠️ BEFORE YOU SPEAK TO POLICE — CALL NOW: 719-520-3968 coloradocri

By Ted McClintock, Criminal Defense Attorney – Colorado Springs, El Paso County If law enforcement in Colorado Springs or El Paso County wants to “just ask a few questions,” it can feel like cooperating is the right thing to do. But in Colorado, talking to police without a lawyer is one of the biggest mistakes you can make—especially if you are under investigation. Here’s what you need to know before saying anything. The Short Answer: No, You Should Not Talk Without a Lawyer

How to Get Off the Sex Offender Registry in Colorado Being required to register as a sex offender in Colorado can follow a person long after their criminal case is over. The registry affects housing, employment opportunities, and personal relationships. The good news is that Colorado law does allow some individuals to petition the court to discontinue sex offender registration. However, the process is complex, the legal requirements are strict, and prosecutors frequentl

Colorado Domestic Violence Mandatory Arrest Law, Protection Orders, and Bond Conditions By Colorado Criminal Defense Attorney Ted McClintock Colorado’s domestic violence mandatory arrest law creates serious and immediate consequences for people accused of crimes involving an intimate partner. In many cases, individuals are surprised to learn that police are required to make an arrest, defendants often spend time in jail before seeing a judge, and courts automatically impose s

When Touching Equals Intercourse: Colorado’s Sexual Assault on a Child Laws and the Consequences the Public Rarely Understands Colorado has some of the harshest sexual offense statutes in the country when it comes to allegations involving children. What many people—including jurors, parents, and even young adults—do not understand is that under Colorado law, touching over the clothes can be treated the same as sexual intercourse, carrying the same charge, the same indetermina

How well do police investigate before going to court?

Colorado’s Sex Offender Laws: The Nation’s Toughest – Understanding Indeterminate Sentencing For more than 25 years, defense attorney Ted...

Presumed Innocent, Yet Punished: How Colorado’s Victims’ Rights Amendment Impacts the Accused In the United States, every person accused...

Navigating the Harsh Reality of Sex‑Offender Probation in Colorado Probation for sex‑offenders in Colorado is notoriously demanding....

Pre-Text Phone Calls If you are facing potential criminal charges you should not speak to anyone on the phone regarding these...