Strangulation charges are among the most serious assault cases in Colorado, and prosecutors tend to push them hard. One of our clients was charged with felony strangulation and maintained his innocence from the first conversation we had with him. He never wavered, and he never took a plea just to make the case go away.
The Charge
Since 2017, Colorado has charged strangulation as a form of second degree assault under C.R.S. § 18-3-203(1)(i) — applying pressure to someone’s throat or neck, or blocking their nose or mouth, in a way that impedes breathing or blood flow. It’s a felony, and prosecutors and courts in Colorado have treated strangulation allegations as a serious aggravating factor in assault and domestic cases for years.
What Happened
Our client’s case sat pending for well over a year. He was offered the chance to resolve it with a plea on multiple occasions and turned it down every time, because he maintained he hadn’t done what he was accused of. We built the case accordingly — preparing for trial rather than preparing for a negotiated plea. At the pretrial readiness conference, the final checkpoint before a case heads to trial, the district attorney’s office dismissed the charge.
Why This Matters
Pretrial readiness conferences exist so both sides confirm they’re actually ready to try the case. A dismissal at that stage usually means the prosecution recognized it could not meet its burden with the evidence it had — not that the defense simply asked nicely. Clients facing serious felony allegations are often under enormous pressure to accept a plea just to end the uncertainty. This case is a reminder that holding your ground, when you know you’re innocent and your attorney is prepared to go the distance, is sometimes exactly what the case calls for.
Charged With Strangulation or Felony Assault?
These cases are charged aggressively in Colorado and carry serious prison exposure. If you’re innocent, you deserve a defense team willing to take the case all the way to trial. Call Mile High Legal today.
