Assault in the third degree in Colorado
You were charged with assault in the third degree in Colorado. That is a criminal accusation. It is not a verdict. The Reisch Law Firm defends third-degree assault cases statewide from Westminster. Call (303) 291-0555.
What this charge means
Third-degree assault typically alleges that you knowingly or recklessly caused bodily injury to another person, or that you acted with criminal negligence using a deadly weapon under the statute’s wording. The complaint will say which path the State is using. Bodily injury can be less than serious, but it still has to be proved.
Many third-degree assault cases are also tagged with a domestic-violence designation. DV is not its own crime. It can change bond, counseling orders, and sentencing options on the underlying count.
How these cases usually start
911 calls, mutual combat, and he-said she-said fights are common. Officers may arrest one person or both. No-contact orders appear fast. Violating a protection order or a bond condition can create a new case overnight.
Issues that decide these cases
- Who caused injury. Mutual combat and inconsistent stories are frequent.
- Mental state. Knowing, reckless, and criminally negligent theories are not the same.
- Medical proof. Photos and records matter more than adjectives in a report.
- Self-defense. When the facts support it, raise it with counsel early.
- Enhancers. DV designation and prior history can change exposure without changing the named charge.
Penalties (confirm before you rely on this)
The class of this offense and the jail or prison range depend on the current statute, the date of the alleged offense, and any sentence enhancers on the complaint. We will not publish a class or a year range on this page as if it were locked 2026 law. Your charging document and the current Colorado Revised Statutes control.
Enhancers can include prior convictions, a domestic-violence designation, a protection-order count, a weapon fact, or consecutive sentences on other counts. Probation eligibility is not automatic. Past results do not guarantee future results. This page is not a promise about your sentence.
Court process in plain English
After an arrest, advisement is usually the first court date. The judge covers rights and bond. Advisement is not arraignment. You do not have to enter a plea there.
The district attorney decides whether to file, add counts, drop counts, or decline. Felony cases that start in county court may have a preliminary-hearing track before district-court arraignment. Discovery, motions, and trial setting follow if the case does not resolve.
Bond is a court order, not a finding of guilt. Conditions can include no contact, no weapons, testing, and GPS. Violating a condition can create a new filing. If you have questions about a condition, call the firm before you guess.
Why people call this firm on this charge
People call because their charge is listed, because they need a trial lawyer, or because a family member is in custody and the next court date is soon. Wrongfully accused or guilty as charged, the job is the same: test the State’s proof and protect the record.
The Reisch Law Firm works from one office in Westminster and takes cases around Colorado. We try cases in Colorado state court and in federal court when the case goes there. Call (303) 291-0555.
Related Colorado charges
What to do now
Call (303) 291-0555. Tell us the county and what the complaint or ticket says. The Reisch Law Firm defends Colorado criminal cases from one office in Westminster and takes cases around the state.
Call (303) 291-0555
The Reisch Law Firm
1490 West 121st Avenue, Suite 202, Westminster, CO 80234
Phone: (303) 291-0555
Back to Colorado Criminal Defense (A-Z)
Past results do not guarantee future results. Attorney advertising.
This page is general information. It is not legal advice and it does not create an attorney-client relationship. The charging document and the current Colorado Revised Statutes control.
