Home / Criminal Defense

Former Colorado Deputy DA · 700+ Investigations as a Denver Human Services Fraud Investigator

Longmont Criminal Defense — by a former Colorado Deputy DA

Q: Why hire a former prosecutor?

Because Charles spent 2018 to 2020 as a Colorado Deputy District Attorney and has built the State's cases from the inside. He knows how charging decisions, plea leverage, and evidence actually work — and he prepares every file as though it is going to trial.

Attorney Charles E. Liken Jr. spent years deciding who gets charged — and how cases get won. Now that entire playbook works for you. A criminal charge puts your freedom, your record, your job, and your gun rights on the table, and the State already has a head start. Attorney Liken has investigated these cases, prosecuted them, and now takes them apart — he knows their next move before they make it.

Charles E. Liken Jr., Esq. — On the Legal Front Lines · Government Investigator, Denver Human Services · Licensed Colorado Attorney ~ 20+ Years in Private Practice · Colorado Deputy District Attorney · Colorado Court-Appointed Child and Family Investigator

Arrested or under investigation? The first 48 hours can decide the case. Say nothing to police — then talk to Attorney Liken.

Free case review

The Insider’s Edge

The prosecutor’s playbook — now on your side

Attorney Liken spent years inside the District Attorney’s office. As a Deputy District Attorney in Colorado’s 12th Judicial District he decided what to charge, what to offer, and what to take to trial. Before that, as a civil and criminal fraud investigator for Denver Human Services (City & County of Denver), he ran more than 700 investigations. He has read thousands of case files the way the prosecution is reading yours right now — hunting for the weak seam. Today he hunts for the weak seam in theirs. That is the difference between a lawyer who reacts to the State’s case and one who saw it coming.

You don’t have to face the State alone — put a former prosecutor in your corner today.

Your choice: no-charge 20-minute phone call OR in-depth hour ($300) — both directly with Attorney Liken.

Free 20-Min Call with Attorney Liken

What’s actually on the table

Prosecutors count on you wanting this to just go away. A fast plea can feel like relief — and quietly cost you far more than the charge itself:

Your freedom — jail and prison are on the table, even for a first offense; a bad probation term can trip you into more.

Your record — a conviction follows you into every job application, lease, and background check, often for the rest of your life.

Your job & licenses — professional licenses, security clearances, and driving privileges can end on a single plea.

Your gun rights — a felony or a domestic-violence conviction can strip them, frequently for good.

Your family — a criminal case bleeds straight into custody, parenting time, and a mandatory protection order.

Your future — immigration status, thousands in fines and fees, and years of supervision can ride on the outcome.

Before you say yes to anything, know exactly what you’re trading away. That conversation is free.

A police report is not the truth

It is one side’s story, written to convict you — not a verdict. Every case gets the investigator treatment: the stop, the search, the timeline, the witnesses, the lab work, the body-cam, pulled apart line by line. Suppression issues and credibility gaps are where cases turn — and finding them is exactly what Attorney Liken did for a living on the other side.

The charges Attorney Liken defends

DUI, DWAI & Traffic Offenses — challenging the stop, the testing, and the procedure; protecting your license and your record. See the full DUI Defense — nine guides for the recently arrested.

Domestic Violence — the Enhancer, and Protection-Order Defense — in Colorado, ‘domestic violence’ is not a charge of its own. Under C.R.S. § 18-6-800.3 it is a sentence enhancer that attaches to an underlying offense (assault, harassment, criminal mischief) against an intimate partner — and it triggers mandatory arrest, a mandatory protection order, firearms surrender, and a treatment evaluation before you’ve told your side. Attorney Liken prosecuted these cases as a Deputy District Attorney; he knows the playbook from the other side and defends the underlying charge, the protection order, and the custody and career fallout that ride along.

Drug Charges — possession through distribution, with close attention to the search and seizure that produced the evidence.

Theft, Fraud & Property Crimes — from a shoplifting allegation to complex economic charges built on documents and intent.

Assault & Violent Crimes — serious charges demand serious preparation: self-defense analysis, witness work, and the medical and forensic record.

Wildlife, Hunting & Fishing Citations — Colorado Parks & Wildlife (CPW) charges: licensing and tags, bag and possession limits, trespass, and Operation Game Thief matters.

Expungement & Record Sealing — clearing the record that follows you, so an old case stops costing you new opportunities.

Arrested? Your first moves decide the rest

Do this now

Say only that you are exercising your right to remain silent and want a lawyer.
Stay polite — do not resist, argue, or try to explain.
Write down everything you remember while it is fresh.
Preserve texts, photos, and the names of witnesses.
Call a lawyer before your next court date — deadlines move fast.

Don’t do this

Talk your way out of it — you can’t, and every word is evidence.
Consent to a search of your phone, car, or home.
Contact the alleged victim — it can become a brand-new charge.
Post anything about the case, anywhere.
Assume the first plea offer is the best one you’ll get.

Facing a DUI? Start with our Colorado DUI Defense — nine plain-English guides with the statutes cited, built for the week after the arrest.

Fees you can plan around: clear, written fee agreements, flexible payment plans through Affirm, and secure payments with Square — so a real defense isn’t gated by the cash you have on hand today.

Common Questions

Frequently asked questions

Should I talk to the police if I am under investigation?

Almost never without a lawyer. You have the right to remain silent and the right to counsel — use both. Politely decline to answer questions and ask for an attorney. As a former prosecutor, Attorney Liken will tell you plainly that most cases are helped by silence and hurt by trying to explain.

What is the difference between a misdemeanor and a felony in Colorado?

Felonies are the most serious crimes and can carry prison time and lasting collateral consequences; misdemeanors carry up to jail and fines. Colorado reworked its sentencing tiers in recent years, so the real exposure for a given charge is not always what people assume — it is worth having it checked.

Why hire a former prosecutor?

Because Attorney Liken spent 2018 to 2020 as a Colorado Deputy District Attorney and has built the State's cases from the inside. He knows how charging decisions, plea leverage, and evidence actually work — and he prepares every file as though it is going to trial.

Can a charge be dismissed or reduced?

Often. Suppression of an illegal search, gaps in the State's proof, and diversion or deferred-judgment options can all change the outcome. The first step is a hard look at the prosecution's file for the leverage points.

Do you handle the first appearance and bond hearing?

Yes. Early representation — at the advisement, the bond hearing, and any protection-order issues — can shape the entire case. The sooner counsel is involved, the more options stay open.

Charles E. Liken Jr., Esq.

Attorney & Counselor at Law

The State already started building its case. You should too.

Your first call is free, confidential, and straight to Attorney Liken — a former Deputy DA who now takes these cases apart. Don’t wait for the next court date to start building your defense.

Directly with Attorney LikenStrictly ConfidentialFormer Colorado Deputy DA30+ Years in the Law

Free 20-Min Call with Attorney Liken