Violation of a protection order in Colorado
You were charged with violating a protection order in Colorado. People call it VPO. That means the State says you knew about a valid order and violated a term. It is an accusation. Call The Reisch Law Firm at (303) 291-0555.
What this charge means
A protection-order violation alleges that a court order was in place, that you knew about it, and that you broke a condition such as no contact, stay-away distance, or no weapons. The order can be a criminal protection order after a DV arrest, a civil restraining order, or another qualifying order. The paperwork and the order itself control.
Contact does not always mean a knock on the door. Texts, calls, third-party messages, social media, and requests that someone else pass a message can be the State’s theory. Distance and location conditions are also common.
How these cases usually start
Often the protected party reports a text or a sighting. Sometimes police see a contact during a welfare check or a traffic stop. Arrest is common. Bond on the new case usually doubles down on no-contact language.
Issues that decide these cases
- Was the order valid and served or otherwise known? Knowledge is an element fight in some files.
- What term was allegedly broken? Read the order. Do not rely on memory.
- Who initiated contact. Initiation can matter for negotiation and for trial themes, depending on the order language and the facts.
- Stacked DV history. Priors and open companion cases change leverage.
If there is an order, follow it until a judge changes it. Call the firm for the criminal case.
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.
