Colorado Springs Criminal Defense Lawyer

Trusted criminal defense lawyers serving clients across Colorado Springs and the surrounding area.

If you have been arrested or charged with a crime in Colorado Springs, it is important to involve an experienced defense attorney early. A charge is the beginning of a process, not the end of the story, and the decisions you make early on shape everything that follows. Our Colorado Springs, CO criminal defense lawyer has defended people across this community for more than two decades, including years as a former prosecutor. We give honest assessments rather than false promises, and we offer free consultations so you can understand your options.

Criminal Defense Lawyer Colorado Springs, CO

A criminal defense lawyer represents people accused of crimes, from minor misdemeanors to serious felonies. In Colorado, the criminal system covers a wide range of charges, and the consequences scale with the severity of the offense. The right defense depends on the specific charge, the evidence, and the circumstances.

What unites nearly every criminal case is this: the state has to prove its case, and you have rights at every step. The prosecution carries the burden of proof, the evidence has to hold up, and the procedures have to be followed. A Colorado Springs criminal defense attorney makes sure none of that gets taken for granted, scrutinizing the stop, the search, the witnesses, and the way the case was built. That scrutiny is often where the defense begins, and it’s something the average person simply cannot do alone against a trained prosecutor.

People facing charges are frequently surprised by how much can be done. Cases get reduced, charges get dismissed, and evidence gets suppressed when it was obtained improperly. None of that is guaranteed, but none of it happens on its own either. It takes a defense that treats the case seriously from the first day, and that begins with someone willing to look hard at the parts of the case the state would rather you accept without question.

Criminal Defense Lawyer Colorado Springs, CO

Types of Criminal Defense Cases We Handle in Colorado Springs

Our practice covers the full range of criminal matters, for adults and juveniles, misdemeanors and felonies. The underlying charge shapes the defense, and we bring the same preparation to each. These are the areas we handle most often for clients across the Colorado Springs region.

DUI. Impaired-driving charges turn on the stop, the testing, and the science. We challenge each link in the state’s chain and work to limit the fallout. These cases are far more defensible than most people assume.
DWAI. Driving while ability impaired is a lesser charge than DUI, but it still carries consequences. We treat these cases with full seriousness rather than waving them through with a quick plea.
Felony DUI. When a DUI rises to felony status, the stakes climb sharply. We bring trial-tested defense to these higher-level charges and challenge the basis for the elevation.
Domestic violence. These cases move fast and carry added conditions and firearm consequences. We act quickly to protect your rights and to make sure your side of the story is heard.
Assault. Assault charges often arise from fights, misunderstandings, or self-defense. We dig into what actually happened and who really started it.
Traffic. Serious traffic charges can carry points, suspension risk, and even criminal exposure. We work to protect your license and your record before a single ticket snowballs into a bigger problem.
Felony menacing. Allegations involving threats or weapons demand careful handling. We treat these charges with the weight they carry and test whether the conduct meets the legal standard.
Military. Service members face civilian charges with added career consequences. We keep the clearance and command implications in view throughout the case.
Theft, drug, and weapons offenses. These charges can carry lasting consequences for your record and your rights. We examine the search, the evidence, and the procedure behind each one, since these are often where a case can be challenged, and an unlawful search can put the state’s evidence out of reach.

Every case turns on its own facts. We build the defense around what the evidence actually shows, not the label on the charge.

Why Choose Christian A. Schwaner, P.C. as my Criminal Defense Lawyer in Colorado Springs, CO?

A Former Prosecutor Who Knows Both Sides

Attorney Christian Schwaner has practiced criminal defense in Colorado for more than 20 years. Before that, he served as a Deputy District Attorney in El Paso and Teller Counties and as a Special Prosecutor elsewhere in the state. He has built and tried cases for the prosecution, which means he understands exactly how the state approaches a criminal matter. We use that insight on behalf of our clients, anticipating the prosecution’s strategy and preparing for it. There is real value in hiring a former prosecutor who has stood in the other chair.

Trial Experience and Straight Answers

We prepare every case as if it could go to trial, because that level of preparation tends to produce the best result whether or not a trial happens. As a prosecutor, Mr. Schwaner was twice recognized for trying more cases than any other attorney in his office. He’s a member of the Colorado Bar Association and the Colorado Criminal Defense Bar, and he’s known for being directly accessible to the clients he represents. We give realistic assessments rather than false promises, and our consultations are free. You’ll leave the first meeting knowing where your case actually stands, not just what you hoped to hear.

Understanding Criminal Defense Cases

Charges, Penalties, and Defense Strategies for Criminal Cases

You don’t need a law degree to understand how a criminal case works. A few core ideas frame nearly every one:

Misdemeanors and felonies. Colorado separates offenses by severity, and the consequences rise accordingly.
The burden is on the state. The prosecution must prove its case, and you are presumed innocent.
Procedure matters. How evidence was gathered, and whether your rights were respected, can change the outcome.
Collateral consequences. A conviction can affect employment, housing, firearm rights, and more.
Many paths to resolution. Cases end in dismissals, reductions, plea agreements, or trials.

Our work starts with the strongest available defense strategies for the facts at hand. Sometimes that means fighting the evidence; other times it means understanding why a prosecutor drops charges when a case turns out weaker than it first appeared. We pursue whichever route gives you the best outcome.

What Are Important Aspects of a Criminal Case?

The outcome of a criminal case often turns on details that never reach the headlines. We give those details close attention.

Whether the stop, search, or arrest was lawful.
Whether the evidence was gathered and preserved properly.
Whether the witnesses are consistent and credible.
Whether your constitutional rights were respected throughout.

These factors can decide a case. We examine each one carefully, because a single misstep by the state can open a path to a better result. Evidence obtained through an unlawful search, for instance, may be kept out entirely, and a case can collapse without it.

What Is The Criminal Case Timeline?

A criminal case moves through a recognizable sequence, though the pace varies with the charge. Knowing the stages helps you prepare for what’s ahead.

Arrest and the filing of charges.
Early appearances and conditions of release.
The exchange of evidence and investigation.
Motions, negotiation, and case development.
Resolution by plea, dismissal, or trial.

The decisions made early can shape the entire case, which is why involving counsel quickly matters because knowing the case timeline helps you make informed choices instead of reacting under pressure.

What Should You Bring to Your Criminal Defense Consultation?

The more you bring, the more useful our guidance will be. If you have these, bring them to the first meeting:

Any arrest or charging paperwork.
Names of witnesses and what each may have seen.
Documents or records relevant to the accusation.
A written account of what happened while it’s fresh.

Expect a frank conversation about your options. We’ll explain how the state may approach the case and the available defenses that might apply to your situation, along with a realistic sense of the range of outcomes you could be looking at.

What Are Important Colorado Legal Resources for Criminal Cases?

You shouldn’t have to navigate the system alone. These public resources can help you understand the courts and laws involved in a Colorado criminal case.

The Colorado Revised Statutes contain the state’s criminal laws.
The El Paso County self-help center provides Fourth Judicial District court information.
Statewide Colorado court self-help resources offer forms and guidance.
The criminal appeal process is outlined for those reviewing a result.

Reach Out to Christian A. Schwaner, P.C. to Schedule a Consultation

A criminal charge is serious, but you have rights, options, and time to use them well. We offer free consultations and will give you an honest read on your case and what to do next, without the false promises some firms lead with. Contact us to speak with a Colorado Springs criminal defense attorney who has spent years on both sides of these courtrooms.