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Grande Law is a boutique criminal defense and personal injury law firm with offices in Miami, FL and Steamboat Springs, CO. Founded by managing partners Stacy Marczak-Grande and Danny Grande, they bring over 40 years of combined legal experience across criminal defense, family law, personal injury, civil litigation, and property damage claims.
What separates Grande Law from larger firms is straightforward: when you call, Stacy or Danny picks up. Not an AI, not an assistant, not a paralegal. That 24/7 direct attorney access is not a marketing line, it is how the firm operates every day.
Colorado sorts felonies into six classes, plus four separate levels for drug felonies. The class on your charging paperwork sets three things:
That’s why one of the first things we check is whether the class itself is right. An overcharged case is often where the defense starts.
| Felony Class | Presumptive Prison Range | Fine Range | Mandatory Parole |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | Life in prison | N/A | N/A |
| Class 2 | 8 to 24 years | $5,000 to $1,000,000 | 5 years |
| Class 3 | 4 to 12 years | $3,000 to $750,000 | 5 years |
| Class 4 | 2 to 6 years | $2,000 to $500,000 | 3 years |
| Class 5 | 1 to 3 years | $1,000 to $100,000 | 2 years |
| Class 6 | 12 to 18 months | $1,000 to $100,000 | 1 year |
| Drug Felony Level 1 | 8 to 32 years | $5,000 to $1,000,000 | 3 years |
| Drug Felony Level 2 | 4 to 8 years | $3,000 to $750,000 | 2 years |
| Drug Felony Level 3 | 2 to 4 years | $2,000 to $500,000 | 1 year |
| Drug Felony Level 4 | 6 months to 1 year | $1,000 to $100,000 | 1 year |
Ranges reflect Colorado’s presumptive sentencing statutes (C.R.S. 18-1.3-401 and 18-1.3-401.5) as of 2026. Aggravating factors, “extraordinary risk” designations, and habitual offender charges can push a sentence above these ranges, while probation or community corrections may be available in other cases.
Many felony charges fall in the Class 4 to Class 6 range: second-degree burglary, felony theft, second-degree assault, a fourth DUI. These classes carry real prison exposure. They’re also where the outcome moves the most depending on how the case is handled.
A Class 4 felony attorney who pushes back early can sometimes get the charge:
Felony cases filed in Steamboat Springs are heard at the Routt Combined Court, 1955 Shield Drive, part of Colorado’s 14th Judicial District. The process has a few stages, and knowing where you are helps you make better decisions along the way.
Soon after a felony arrest, you’ll see a judge for an advisement. The court explains the charges and sets bond and release conditions, like no-contact orders or travel limits.
The District Attorney files a felony complaint. This is where the charge’s class gets set, and where we start checking whether the facts actually support it.
Not every felony gets a preliminary hearing in Colorado. You have a right to one for:
Most Class 4, 5, and 6 felonies only get one if you’re in custody. Otherwise, the case goes to a dispositional hearing where early resolution is discussed. A preliminary hearing, when available, is one of the best early chances to test the State’s evidence under oath.
You enter a plea in district court. Once you plead not guilty, we file motions to challenge what the State plans to use, like evidence from an illegal search or statements taken without proper warnings.
Most felony cases end in a negotiated resolution, but the leverage in those talks depends on how ready your attorney is to try the case. You always keep the right to a jury trial if the offer isn’t fair.
A felony case doesn’t end at sentencing. A conviction can cost you:
It can also affect immigration status for non-citizens. That’s why we plan for what your record will look like after the case, not just how the case ends.
Colorado calls it “sealing,” not expungement, and the rules have gotten much better for people with older cases. Colorado’s Clean Slate laws, which took full effect in July 2025, work like this:
Searching for a felony expungement attorney? This is the work you mean. We can review an old case to see if it qualifies. In a current case, we can steer the resolution toward an outcome that can be sealed later, like a deferred judgment that ends in dismissal.
Possession with intent to distribute, sales, and trafficking charges are often built from traffic stops on US-40 or searches of rentals and hotel rooms. Fentanyl and larger-quantity cases can climb to Level 1 or 2 drug felonies fast, so we start by testing how the evidence was found.
A bar fight on Lincoln Avenue can turn into a second-degree assault charge once someone is seriously hurt or a weapon is involved. As an aggravated assault attorney and robbery defense lawyer, Stacy looks hard at what really happened, including self-defense.
A fourth DUI is a Class 4 felony in Colorado, and so is vehicular assault after a crash that seriously injures someone. Snow, ice, and mountain roads matter in these cases, and a bad accident doesn’t automatically mean a crime was committed.
Domestic violence charges become felonies when they involve strangulation, serious injury, or a history of prior DV convictions. These cases come with protection orders that can remove you from your home immediately, so speed matters.
Theft becomes a felony in Colorado once the value reaches $2,000, and the class climbs with the value. As a burglary defense attorney, Stacy also handles cases involving vacation homes, short-term rentals, and businesses, where ownership and permission are often disputed.
Possession of a weapon by a previous offender and prohibited use of a weapon are common felony charges. Where the weapon was found, who had access to it, and how police found it can all shape the defense.
Forgery, identity theft, and embezzlement cases often grow out of property management, hospitality, or business disputes. These cases are paper-heavy, and the records can tell a different story than the accusation.
Some cases in the Steamboat area are charged federally, especially when they happen on Routt National Forest or BLM land. Grande Law is admitted to practice in federal court, so we can stay with your case if it moves out of state court.
Call any time and Stacy picks up personally. No AI, no assistant, and no receptionist deciding whether your situation is urgent enough.
Stacy and Danny have spent more than 40 combined years in courtrooms. That experience shows up in how a case gets negotiated and, when needed, tried.
Grande Law has represented more than 5,000 clients and recovered over $50 million in the last 10 years. That track record is behind every case we take on.
Multi-state and federal licensure means your case doesn’t have to change hands if it crosses state lines. That matters for visitors and for charges that turn federal.
Grande Law is a boutique firm, so your case gets real attention instead of a quick review before court. You’ll always know what’s happening and why.
A three-year Routt County Humane Society sponsor and five-year STARS jacket sponsor. Grande Law is invested in the people and organizations that make Steamboat Springs home.
Every felony case is different. These results reflect the level of preparation and advocacy Grande Law brings to every matter.
Results depend on the specific facts of each case. Past results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome in any future case.
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Call any time, including the night of an arrest. You’ll speak with an attorney right away, and we’ll tell you what to do and what not to say.
We go over the charges, your bond conditions, and your court dates. You’ll leave knowing the felony class, the realistic range, and our first moves.
We get the police reports, body camera footage, lab results, and witness statements, then look for weak spots. We bring in our own experts if the case calls for it.
We file motions to suppress bad evidence and use any preliminary hearing to test the State’s witnesses. That pressure is what moves prosecutors toward reduced charges or dismissal.
Your case ends in a dismissal, a fair plea, or a jury verdict. Then we look at whether your record can be sealed.
“I was at my lowest and Stacy at grande law didnt make me feel bad for my mistakes. She is amazing and made the court process so much easier to navigate with her confidence and knowledge of the law. I would always recommend grande law to everyone who needs help!!!”
“I had an excellent experience with Grande Law. Stacy Marczak did a tremendous job representing me. The outcome of my case exceeded my expectations. She was prompt in responding to my questions and always took the time to explain things clearly and thoroughly, breaking down the legal complexities in a way I could understand. I highly recommend Grande Law to anyone in need of strong, effective legal representation.”
“Stacy made things very easy for me, kept me updated on what I need to do and always keeping me in communication for next steps. Highly recommend choosing Grande Law”
Common questions about felony charges in Colorado and how we work.
Yes, in some cases. A plea agreement can amend the charge to a misdemeanor, and some lower-level felonies can be reduced after probation is completed. A deferred judgment is another option: you plead guilty, and if you complete up to four years of conditions, the plea is withdrawn and the case is dismissed. Which options are realistic depends on the charge, the evidence, and your record.
Not always. Felony defendants must be present for key hearings like arraignment, plea, and trial. Your attorney can often handle routine settings, and some appearances can be done remotely with the court’s permission. Visitors and seasonal workers get charged in Steamboat all the time, so we plan the schedule around your travel from the start.
Stay calm and don’t discuss the facts with police, even if you think you can explain. Ask for an attorney, then call us. We can help with bond, explain your release conditions, and make sure nothing you say early on hurts you later.
A case that resolves early can wrap up in a few months, while a case headed to trial can take a year or longer. Colorado’s speedy trial rule generally requires trial within six months of a not guilty plea, though that clock is often extended by agreement when the defense needs more time.
A DUI becomes a Class 4 felony when you have three or more prior alcohol- or drug-related driving convictions, from any state and no matter how long ago. Felony DUI carries 2 to 6 years in prison, and even with probation, the court must order 90 to 180 days in jail.
Crimes on federal land, or cases involving federal agencies, can be charged in the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado instead of Routt County. Federal court has different rules and sentencing guidelines, and Grande Law is admitted to practice there.
The first days after an arrest shape everything that follows. Call Stacy tonight, get real answers, and start building your defense.
Reach out today, Stacy or Danny will be in touch directly.
Your information stays confidential.
Stacy Marczak-Grande is based in Steamboat Springs and practices in the Routt County courts. Facing a felony anywhere in Routt County or northwest Colorado? You can sit down with your attorney right here in town.
941 Lincoln Ave Suite 200-E1-F
Steamboat Springs, CO 80487
Open 24 Hours, 7 Days a Week
Stacy is based in Steamboat Springs and knows the 14th Judicial District.