Child Molestation Attorney in Denver

Colorado Criminal Defense Since 1995. Hundreds of Jury Trials.

Law Offices of M. Colin Bresee handles criminal defense exclusively, representing people in Denver and the surrounding metro area accused of serious felonies, including sexual assault on a child. Attorney Colin Bresee has been practicing criminal law since 1995, and his background as a former prosecutor shapes how he approaches charges that carry severe, lasting consequences.

If you or someone you know is facing a sexual assault on a child allegation, contact our firm today for a free initial consultation. Call (303) 747-4032 to speak with Attorney Bresee directly.

Sexual Assault on a Child Under Colorado Law

Colorado’s criminal code doesn’t use the phrase “child molestation.” The charge is formally called sexual assault on a child, defined under C.R.S. 18-3-405. The statute applies when a person knowingly subjects someone who is not their spouse to sexual contact, the victim is under 15, and the accused is at least four years older.

Colorado’s legal definition of sexual contact is broad. It includes touching of intimate parts, or touching through clothing, when done for purposes of sexual arousal, gratification, or abuse. Penetration isn’t required for the charge to apply.

A related charge, sexual assault on a child by one in a position of trust under C.R.S. 18-3-405.3, applies when the accused held a role such as parent, teacher, or caregiver relative to the child. That charge carries its own classification and penalty structure.

Felony Classification & Sentencing Exposure

Sexual assault on a child is ordinarily a class 4 felony, carrying 2 to 6 years in prison, 3 years of mandatory parole, and fines up to $500,000. The charge becomes a class 3 felony when the prosecution can show that force was used, the victim was threatened with death, injury, or kidnapping, or the conduct was part of a pattern of sexual abuse involving the same victim.

Colorado also applies an indeterminate sentencing framework to sex offense convictions, which can extend a sentence toward the defendant’s natural life depending on the offense and criminal history. Any conviction requires mandatory registration as a sex offender, regardless of whether the sentence involves incarceration or probation. Colorado imposes no statute of limitations on child sex offenses, meaning charges can be filed years or even decades after the alleged conduct occurred.