Criminal Law

Criminal Law & Criminal Defense

Gard Law Firm is dedicated to defending people from all walks of life charged with crimes. In our more than two decades of experience, many clients are falsely accused and many cases are exaggerated and the facts misstated. Sometimes the accusation against our client is patently false. We have successfully defended people who stand accused of all types and levels of crimes, including cannabis and other serious drug cases, theft, criminal mischief, DUI/DWAI/DUID, assault, domestic violence, harassment, etc. We have successfully tried numerous cases throughout the state and negotiated thousands of plea agreements, many of which helped the client avoid jail time and move on with their life.

Jeff Gard is recognized as one of the Ten Best Colorado Criminal Law Attorneys by American Institute of Criminal Law Attorneys and is nationally recognized as one the Top 100 Criminal Defense Lawyers in the country by the National Trial Lawyers. Jeff draws upon his experience to teach other lawyers on the subject of defending cannabis driving cases, including a recent lecture to an annual gathering of judges and lawyers at a conference about cannabis and driving. Finally, Jeff is one of only a handful of attorneys in the state of Colorado to become a Life Member of the Colorado Criminal Defense Bar. The Colorado Criminal Defense Bar is dedicated to protecting the rights of people accused of crimes.

Some examples of our efforts to help people accused of crimes:

Trials & Acquittals

Many cases are resolved by a plea agreement. But, sometimes a case has to be tried by a jury.  Many lawyers talk big about taking cases to trial, but most are actually afraid to do so. While we try our best to achieve our client’s goals through plea negotiation, some cases must be taken to trial.  We have tried many, many cases and honed our craft over decades of courtroom experience. We are prepared, creative and tenacious and will go all the way if necessary. Some examples of our trial work:

We acquitted a client at trial of a serious assault involving allegations of strangulation.

We acquitted a client at trial of criminal mischief, which is the unlawful destruction of another’s property.

We acquitted numerous clients who were charged with driving under the influence of cannabis. This is a particular specialty of Gard Law Firm.

We acquitted a young woman of menacing with a deadly weapon.

We have acquitted many clients of DUI where the police either exaggerated the facts or flat out lied about the facts of the case.  We have also won many related DMV hearings and fortunately saved our client’s driving privileges so that they could continue to work and care for their families.

Plea Negotiations

Gard Law Firm enjoys a storied reputation among judges and DAs for taking cases to trial and winning.  That gives us a strategic advantage when it comes to plea negotiations. The DAs know that when the cause is just, we will not back down and take a case to trial when necessary.  We do not simply wait and see what a prosecutor will offer our client. Instead, we meet with the client, establish our goal and set about trying to achieve it. Some examples of our plea negotiations:

We negotiated a deferred sentence, where the case was eventually dismissed, for a client charged with felony cultivation of cannabis.

We reduced a serious DUI charge to careless driving.

We negotiated reduction of a charge of driving under the influence of drugs to careless driving. Cannabis DUIs are a specialty with Gard Law Firm based on our close association and experience with cannabis legalization.

We negotiated a deferred sentence, again where the charge was later dismissed, in a multi-thousand dollar felony forgery case.

We obtained a deferred sentence to a domestic violence charge for a client accused of assaulting her boyfriend. We have achieved this result many times over.

Trials & Acquittals

Many cases are resolved by a plea agreement. But, sometimes a case has to be tried by a jury.  Many lawyers talk big about taking cases to trial, but most are actually afraid to do so. While we try our best to achieve our client’s goals through plea negotiation, some cases must be taken to trial.  We have tried many, many cases and honed our craft over decades of courtroom experience. We are prepared, creative and tenacious and will go all the way if necessary. Some examples of our trial work:

  • We acquitted a client at trial of a serious assault involving allegations of strangulation.
  • We acquitted a client at trial of criminal mischief, which is the unlawful destruction of another’s property.
  • We acquitted numerous clients who were charged with driving under the influence of cannabis. This is a particular specialty of Gard Law Firm.
  • We acquitted a young woman of menacing with a deadly weapon.
  • We have acquitted many clients of DUI where the police either exaggerated the facts or flat out lied about the facts of the case.  We have also won many related DMV hearings and fortunately saved our client’s driving privileges so that they could continue to work and care for their families.

Plea Negotiations

  • We negotiated a deferred sentence, where the case was eventually dismissed, for a client charged with felony cultivation of cannabis.
  • We reduced a serious DUI charge to careless driving.
  • We negotiated reduction of a charge of driving under the influence of drugs to careless driving. Cannabis DUIs are a specialty with Gard Law Firm based on our close association and experience with cannabis legalization.
  • We negotiated a deferred sentence, again where the charge was later dismissed, in a multi-thousand dollar felony forgery case.
  • We obtained a deferred sentence to a domestic violence charge for a client accused of assaulting her boyfriend. We have achieved this result many times over.

Dismissals & Deferrals

When a person is arrested, the police, the DA and the judge all believe the person is guilty.  All the weight and power of the government is then focused on prosecuting the client and convicting them. However, believe it or not, many people are innocent and falsely accused. When that happens, plea bargains are off the table and it is our duty to convince the prosecutor and/or the judge that our client is innocent and that justice demands that the case be dismissed. Some examples of our work:

We secured dismissal of a menacing with a deadly weapon case, where we proved the client did not commit the crime.

We secured dismissal of DUI and domestic violence on the eve of jury trial.

We convinced the DA to drop false sexual assault cases against two separate clients. Such a result is rare and we were able to repeat the feat twice! The truth prevailed and both clients were able to resume their lives without the stigma of such heinous and false sexual assault allegations.

We convinced the DA to drop felony trespass charges by proving that the arrest was unconstitutional.

We convinced the DA to drop burglary, stalking and theft charges by proving that the alleged victim was not truthful in her statements to the police.

Dismissals & Deferrals

When a person is arrested, the police, the DA and the judge all believe the person is guilty.  All the weight and power of the government is then focused on prosecuting the client and convicting them. However, believe it or not, many people are innocent and falsely accused. When that happens, plea bargains are off the table and it is our duty to convince the prosecutor and/or the judge that our client is innocent and that justice demands that the case be dismissed. Some examples of our work:

  • We secured dismissal of a menacing with a deadly weapon case, where we proved the client did not commit the crime.
  • We secured dismissal of DUI and domestic violence on the eve of jury trial.
  • We convinced the DA to drop false sexual assault cases against two separate clients. Such a result is rare and we were able to repeat the feat twice! The truth prevailed and both clients were able to resume their lives without the stigma of such heinous and false sexual assault allegations.
  • We convinced the DA to drop felony trespass charges by proving that the arrest was unconstitutional.
  • We convinced the DA to drop burglary, stalking and theft charges by proving that the alleged victim was not truthful in her statements to the police.

Client Testimonial

“There are no words to adequately express my appreciation for your nearly miraculous legal guidance and court-related work on my DUI case. The relief I felt when learning of the court’s decision can only be described as the weight of the world being lifted off my shoulders. You did a tremendous job, Jeff, and I can’t thank you enough. I will spread the word regarding your exceptional competence and professionalism. Thank you for all you have done in simplifying and improving my life.”

~ Noah R.W. Saunders ~

*Special Note

All of the cases, set forth above are for purposes of example, and are not and should not be construed as a guarantee or predictor of future result.