Domestic Violence Criminal Defense
By Attorney Charles E. Liken Jr., former Colorado Deputy District Attorney. Accused of domestic violence in Colorado? The system moves fast and hard — get ahead of the no-contact order and the fallout.
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
“DV” isn’t a charge — it’s a sentence enhancement
In Colorado, domestic violence isn’t a standalone crime — it’s an enhancer (C.R.S. § 18-6-800.3) bolted onto an underlying charge, and it triggers mandatory arrest (C.R.S. § 18-6-803.6) and an automatic protection order before you ever see a judge. Attorney Liken prosecuted these cases as a Deputy DA; he knows the playbook from the other side.
Ready when you are — talk it through with Attorney Liken.
Your choice: no-charge 20-minute phone call OR in-depth hour ($300) — both directly with Attorney Liken.
The first 72 hours set the tone
The no-contact order, the bond conditions, and what you say early can decide the whole case. If you’ve been arrested, call before the first hearing — that’s where the ground is won or lost.
Frequently asked questions
What happens after a domestic violence arrest in Colorado?
Colorado treats domestic violence as a sentence enhancer attached to an underlying charge, and a mandatory-arrest law means officers often must arrest when they suspect it. A mandatory protection order usually issues immediately, and there is typically no bond until you see a judge — so early legal help matters.
Will a no-contact order keep me from my home and my kids?
Often, at least at first. The mandatory protection order in a DV case commonly bars contact with the alleged victim and can force you out of a shared home. The firm moves quickly to modify the order where the law and the facts allow.
Can DV charges be dropped if the alleged victim does not want to press charges?
Not automatically. In Colorado the prosecutor, not the alleged victim, decides whether to pursue the case, and DV cases carry special rules against dismissal. That is why the defense strategy runs through the district attorney's office, not the other party.
Why hire a former prosecutor for a DV case?
Because these cases are won by understanding how the State builds them. Attorney Liken spent 2018 to 2020 as a Colorado Deputy District Attorney and has read these files from the inside — the protection-order mechanics, the enhancer, and the leverage points.
Take the first step. We'll take it from there.
No-charge 20-minute phone consultation, or an in-depth hour ($300) — both directly with Attorney Liken.