A criminal case rarely stays inside the courtroom. A misdemeanor can surface on a background check years later. A DUI can affect your commercial license or your insurance rates.

Many of my Centennial clients are nurses, engineers, teachers, and business owners who commute to the Denver Tech Center or Inverness. Others are college students home for the summer or parents worried about a teenager. Each of them needs a defense built around their actual life, so before I recommend a plan, I look at:

• Your professional license and how your employer or licensing board may respond
• Your family and housing, especially if a protection order keeps you from going home
• Your right to own firearms, which certain convictions can take away under state and federal law
• Immigration consequences if you are not a U.S. citizen
• Whether your record can be sealed later, and what outcome makes that possible

My goal is to resolve your case in a way that protects these things, and to keep the matter as private as the law allows.

Centennial's justice system works differently from most Colorado cities. Knowing who handles your case is the first step in defending it.

Who Makes Arrests in Centennial

Centennial does not have its own police department. The city contracts with the Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office, so the deputies patrolling your neighborhood serve as Centennial's police. The Colorado State Patrol also enforces traffic laws on I-25, C-470, and E-470. If you were stopped near a city boundary, an officer from Greenwood Village, Lone Tree, or Aurora may have made the arrest instead, and that can change which court hears your case.

The Arapahoe County Justice Center

Most criminal cases from Centennial are heard at the Arapahoe County Justice Center, 7325 S. Potomac St., Centennial, CO 80112. Two courts share the building. Arapahoe County Court handles misdemeanors, petty offenses, and traffic crimes such as DUI. Arapahoe County District Court handles felonies, which are the more serious charges that carry possible prison time.

The 18th Judicial District

Colorado divides its trial courts into judicial districts. On January 14, 2025, Douglas, Elbert, and Lincoln counties left the 18th Judicial District to form the new 23rd. The 18th now covers Arapahoe County alone. Your case will be prosecuted by the 18th Judicial District Attorney's Office, which is also based in Centennial.

Centennial Municipal Court

The city runs its own municipal court at the Centennial Civic Center, 13133 E. Arapahoe Rd. It mainly handles traffic tickets, animal cases, and city code violations. According to the city, it does not handle domestic violence cases, so a DV arrest in Centennial goes to the Justice Center under state law. If your paperwork lists the municipal court, call me to confirm what you are actually charged with.

If You or a Family Member Is in Custody

People arrested in Centennial are usually booked into the Arapahoe County Detention Facility, next door to the Justice Center. A judge will set bond, which is the amount or set of conditions required for release while the case is open. Calling an attorney before that first appearance gives us a chance to argue for reasonable bond terms.

Every case is different, but most Centennial cases follow the same general path.

1. Arrest and booking. A sheriff's deputy or state trooper takes you to the Arapahoe County Detention Facility, where you are fingerprinted and photographed. Some people receive a summons instead and are released at the scene.
2. Bond and advisement. A judge advises you of the charges and your rights, then sets bond. In domestic violence cases, a protection order is issued at this stage.
3. DMV deadline (DUI only). If your license was taken or you received a notice of revocation, the request for a DMV hearing is generally due within seven days.
4. First appearance and discovery. The prosecution must share its evidence, which is called discovery. This includes police reports, body camera footage, and test results. I review all of it for errors and constitutional problems.
5. Negotiation or motions. Many cases are dismissed or reduced through negotiation. Others turn on a motion to suppress evidence from an unlawful stop or search.
6. Trial. If the prosecution will not make a fair offer, you have the right to a jury trial, and I prepare every case as if it will go there.

The earlier I am involved, the more of these steps I can influence. Read my guide on 10 things to do once you've been arrested for practical guidance on what to say and what to avoid.

• Compassionate yet aggressive. I treat you with respect and fight hard on your behalf.
• Personalized attention. I run a small practice on purpose. You will not be handed off to a junior associate or a paralegal you have never met.
• Thorough preparation. I read every report, watch every video, and question every test result before I give you advice.
• Clear communication. You will know where your case stands, what your options are, and what each one could cost you.
• An Arapahoe County office. My office on West Hampden Avenue is in Arapahoe County, and I regularly appear at the Justice Center where Centennial cases are heard.

I represent clients from every part of Centennial, including Southglenn, Willow Creek, Walnut Hills, Homestead, Piney Creek, Dry Creek, and the neighborhoods east of Parker Road. My criminal defense services also extend throughout Arapahoe County, including Greenwood Village, Englewood, Littleton, Aurora, Cherry Hills Village, and Foxfield. 

I grew up in Aurora, and I have practiced criminal defense in the Denver metro area for more than 25 years. Arapahoe County is home, and I care about the people who live here.

If you or someone you love was arrested in Centennial, do not wait for your first court date to get advice. Call or text me at 303-907-1504 to set up a time to meet at my Englewood office or talk by phone.

I value building long-term relationships with my clients, and your future success is extremely important to me.

"Professional, thorough, and truly cares about her clients. Margaret helped me get my life back on track." 

You may picture criminal defense attorneys as confrontational and abrupt. I take a different approach—my focus is on helping you gain peace of mind, knowing your case is in experienced, dedicated hands.

If this is your first time dealing with the justice system, you may feel completely out of your wheelhouse. You may not be schooled in Fourth Amendment rights or the nuances of lawful police searches.

"You've had a horrible experience, and you just need to know what to do next.

Reach out to me; I've got you from here."

Request a free, confidential consultation today: