Domestic Violence Cases in Arapahoe County
All state-law and municipal DV cases in Arapahoe County are filed at the Arapahoe County Justice Center, 7325 S Potomac Street, Centennial, CO 80112. Misdemeanor DV cases are heard in Arapahoe County Court, while felony DV charges (second-degree assault, kidnapping, felony menacing) proceed to Arapahoe County District Court. Aurora's police force is one of the largest in the state and a major source of the county's DV docket.
Daniel's recent Arapahoe County DV work includes a 2024 not-guilty jury verdict on a felony second-degree assault / DV charge, with the arrest record subsequently sealed. He also obtained a 2022 dismissal of an Arapahoe County harassment / stalking case on the prosecution's own motion after defense investigation. His law office is located at 5950 S Willow Drive in Greenwood Village — a short drive from the Justice Center and most of the cities in the 18th Judicial District.
OverviewColorado's Domestic Violence Law in Arapahoe County
In Colorado, domestic violence is not a standalone crime — it is a sentence enhancer applied under C.R.S. § 18-6-800.3 to any offense committed as "an act or threatened act of violence upon a person with whom the actor is or has been in an intimate relationship" or any crime committed upon such person as method of control, coercion, intimidation, punishment, or revenge. The label can be attached to assault, harassment, menacing, criminal mischief, and many other charges.
The consequences of that label are severe:
- Mandatory arrest — officers must arrest if probable cause exists; they have no discretion to de-escalate or walk away.
- Mandatory protection order — no contact with the alleged victim, often from the jail phone on day one.
- Mandatory treatment from a certified DV-offender treatment program upon conviction lasting anywhere from 6 to 18 months or more.
- Firearm prohibition — state relinquishment plus a permanent federal ban under 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(9) (the Lautenberg Amendment).
- Habitual-offender exposure — a fourth DV conviction elevates to a class 5 felony.
Types of Cases Handled
- Third-degree assault — DV enhancer
- Second-degree assault with DV designation
- Harassment & stalking — intimate partner
- Menacing (misdemeanor and felony) — DV
- Criminal mischief and trespass — DV
- Violation of protection order (VPO)
- False imprisonment / kidnapping — intimate partner
- Habitual DV cases
Defense Strategy
DV cases are often built on a single recorded phone call and one officer's summary. A strong defense looks past the arrest report and into the actual evidence:
- Challenging the "intimate relationship" element when the statutory definition isn't met
- Cross-examining complaining witnesses on motive, bias, and inconsistent statements
- Presenting self-defense, defense of others, or defense of property
- Using the complainant's own prior statements — 911 audio, body cam, medical records — to expose inconsistencies
- Negotiating deferred judgments that preserve firearm rights and avoid a conviction of record
What's Different About Arapahoe County DV Cases
Arapahoe County's 18th Judicial District changed significantly in 2025, when Douglas, Elbert, and Lincoln Counties were split off into the new 23rd Judicial District. What remains is a focused Arapahoe-only district anchored at the Arapahoe County Justice Center in Centennial. The DA's office is rebuilding case-load patterns, plea standards, and trial calendars in that smaller-but-denser configuration — and the practical effects are still working through the docket.
Aurora is by far the largest city in the district and the source of most Arapahoe DV filings. Aurora Police Department is the primary arresting agency, with Centennial-area cases coming through the Arapahoe County Sheriff. Cases from Englewood, Littleton, Greenwood Village, and Cherry Hills Village are filed at the same Centennial courthouse but are often handled by different deputy DAs and judges than the Aurora docket.
Some misdemeanor-level conduct (certain harassment, disorderly conduct, and trespass matters) can be filed in Aurora Municipal Court instead of state court. The forum carries different procedural rights, different sentencing posture, and different collateral consequences. Choosing or contesting the forum is sometimes itself a defense issue worth litigating from the first appearance.
Recent Arapahoe County Results
- Not Guilty — Second-Degree Assault / Domestic Violence (Arapahoe County, August 2024). Felony charge tried to a complete jury acquittal; arrest record subsequently sealed.
- Dismissed — Harassment / Stalking (Arapahoe County, 2022). Charges dropped on the prosecution's own motion after defense investigation.
Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. See full case results.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where will my Arapahoe County DV case be heard?
All DV cases out of Arapahoe County—including those from Aurora—are filed at the Arapahoe County Justice Center at 7325 S Potomac Street in Centennial. Misdemeanor DV is heard in Arapahoe County Court; felony DV (second-degree assault, kidnapping, felony menacing) goes to Arapahoe County District Court.
Can the alleged victim drop the charges?
No. In Colorado, charging decisions belong exclusively to the District Attorney. A recanting complainant does not automatically end the case, but an experienced defense attorney can use that position to negotiate for dismissal or reduction.
How long will the protection order last?
The mandatory criminal protection order remains in effect until the case is fully resolved. Some conditions (like exclusion from the home) can be modified early with court approval — a motion Daniel frequently files.
Will this affect my firearm rights?
Yes — a DV conviction in Colorado triggers state firearm relinquishment and a permanent federal prohibition under the Lautenberg Amendment. Avoiding a conviction (through dismissal, deferred judgment, or a reduction to a non-DV charge) is central to the defense strategy for gun owners, law enforcement, and military clients.
Request Free Arapahoe County DV Consultation Call 303-831-6111