Lakewood Criminal Defense Attorney Serving Jefferson County
An arrest in Lakewood usually starts with a phone call nobody plans for. Maybe it came after a traffic stop on Wadsworth. Maybe an officer showed up at your door with questions you were not prepared to answer. Either way, you are now holding a piece of paper with a court date on it and no clear sense of what happens next.
The first thing to know is that a charge is not a conviction. The second is that the window where good decisions matter most is the one you are standing in right now, before your first appearance and before anyone talks you into explaining yourself.
I am Margaret Teigen Steele. I defend people facing criminal charges in Lakewood and throughout Jefferson County, and I keep my caseload small on purpose so the people I represent are never left guessing about where their case stands.
Defense That Protects Your Record, Your Job, and Your Privacy
Most of my clients are not career defendants. They are nurses at St. Anthony, contractors running their own crews, federal employees at the Denver Federal Center, teachers in Jeffco Public Schools, and parents who have never been inside a courtroom. For them, the courtroom outcome is only half the problem. The other half is what a charge does to a reputation and a paycheck while the case is still open.
That reality shapes how I build a defense. Before we talk strategy, I want to know what you stand to lose outside the courthouse:
- Whether you hold a professional license, a security clearance, or a CDL
- Whether your employer has a reporting policy you have already triggered
- Whether you are a non-citizen and the charge carries immigration exposure
- Whether custody, parenting time, or a protection order is in play
- Whether your name is attached to a business that customers can search
An outcome that looks like a win on paper is not a win if it costs you your license or your clearance. I would rather fight for a resolution that leaves your record and your livelihood intact than take the fastest available plea and call it a day.
Criminal Charges I Defend in Jefferson County
I handle the full range of state criminal charges, from first-offense misdemeanors to serious felonies. Every case starts the same way, with a hard look at how the evidence was gathered and whether it can survive scrutiny. Stops without reasonable suspicion, searches without valid consent, unrecorded statements, sloppy chain of custody, and unreliable witness identification all fall apart under pressure, and pressure is what I apply.
- Assault and menacing
- Domestic violence
- Drug possession and distribution
- DUI, DWAI, and DUID
- Gun charges
- Probation revocations
- Restraining orders
- Sealing criminal records
- Sex offenses
- Theft and burglary
- Traffic and DMV hearings
- Vehicular assault and homicide
Two tracks often run at once and people only notice one. A DUI arrest triggers a criminal case in court and a separate license revocation through the Colorado DMV, each with its own deadline. Miss the administrative hearing request and you can lose your license even if the criminal charge later gets dismissed. I handle both.
What Working With Steele Law Looks Like
- You get me, not a rotating associate. The attorney you meet at your consultation is the attorney who reads the discovery, argues your motions, and stands next to you at every hearing. Small firm, deliberately.
- I return calls and texts myself. Waiting three days to hear back from a lawyer while you are facing a criminal charge is its own kind of punishment. You can reach me directly.
- I tell you the unwelcome version. If your case has a weakness, you will hear it from me before you hear it from a prosecutor. You cannot make a sound decision about trial versus resolution on optimistic information.
- I prepare the case as if it is going to trial. Most cases resolve short of trial, but the ones that resolve well are the ones the prosecution knows are ready. Preparation is leverage.
- Discretion is built in, not added on. I understand what a public docket does to a private life. I move carefully, I keep filings lean, and I do not create paper trails your case does not need.
Local Representation in Lakewood and Jefferson County
Almost every criminal case out of Lakewood lands in one of two courthouses, and I appear in both. Felony and state misdemeanor charges go to the Jefferson County Combined Court at 100 Jefferson County Parkway in Golden, which handles the First Judicial District along with Gilpin County. Charges filed under Lakewood's municipal code, including most traffic citations written by Lakewood Police, go to Lakewood Municipal Court at 445 South Allison Parkway. Jefferson County is the fourth most populous county in Colorado and both dockets move at a high pace, which is exactly when familiarity with a courtroom pays off.
The two forums carry different penalty exposure, negotiate differently, and offer different amounts of privacy. In some situations a charge filed in one can be steered toward the other. Recognizing when that is worth pursuing, and who to raise it with, comes from years of appearing in these buildings rather than reading about them.
Local representation is also about people. After more than 25 years practicing criminal defense in Colorado, I know how judges and deputy district attorneys in the First Judicial District tend to approach specific charges, which arguments get traction with a particular prosecutor, and which ones cost you credibility. None of that guarantees a result. It does mean I am not learning the room while your case is on the line.
I represent clients throughout Jefferson County, including Lakewood, Golden, Wheat Ridge, Arvada, Edgewater, Morrison, Applewood, Ken Caryl, and Evergreen.
Request a Free, Confidential Consultation with Steele Law Criminal Defense
If you have been arrested or have a warrant out for your arrest, you do not have time to lose. I am available to meet with you in person or over the phone to discuss your case.
You can reach out to me via text or phone call at 303-907-1504, or fill out my contact form, to set up a free consultation. I will get back to you as soon as possible.
Over 25 Years in Colorado Criminal Courtrooms
I have spent more than 25 years working inside Colorado's criminal justice system. That experience taught me something people rarely hear from a defense attorney: the system is not built for clarity. It is built for volume. Cases move fast, explanations are thin, and the person at the center of it all is usually the last to understand what is happening to them.
My job is to close that gap. I explain what each hearing is for, what the prosecution is actually holding, what the realistic range of outcomes looks like, and what each option costs you. Then you decide, with real information in front of you.
I take a limited number of cases so I can do that properly. If you are looking for a firm that processes high volume at low cost, I am not the right fit. If you want an attorney who knows the details of your case cold and treats what you stand to lose as the point rather than a footnote, we should talk.
A criminal conviction can have long-lasting effects on your life, and this is a path you likely never would have expected. Allow me to provide the strong, aggressive, and discreet representation you need.
25+
Years Experience
Hear From Past Clients
I value building long-term relationships with my clients, and your future success is extremely important to me.
"Margaret was there for me during the most difficult time in my life. Her expertise and compassion made all the difference in my case."
"I felt lost and scared when I was arrested. Margaret explained everything clearly and fought hard for me. I can't thank her enough."
"Professional, thorough, and truly cares about her clients. Margaret helped me get my life back on track."
The Steele Law Criminal Defense Difference
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.
Compassionate Yet Aggressive
I understand the scope of emotions you may be feeling. I approach your case aggressively because I care about your outcomes and your future.
Personalized Attention
Steele Law Criminal Defense is a boutique law firm where you receive personalized, individual attention. I only take on select cases to ensure full dedication.
Thorough Preparation
Criminal cases are never straightforward. I prepare for all possible outcomes so we are never caught off guard throughout your legal process.
Privacy & Discretion
I handle all cases with the utmost privacy. I understand how charges can affect your reputation and do everything to protect it.
Transparent Communication
Staying informed helps you feel in control. You can reach me any time via phone, text, or email with questions.
Proven Experience & Results
With years of experience as a former prosecutor and defender, I have a track record of successful outcomes. I leverage this expertise to fight for the best possible resolution in your case.
Representation Across the Denver Metropolitan Area
My legal practice is based in Englewood, CO, but I travel to clients across the greater Denver Metropolitan Area.
If you are located outside of these areas, feel free to reach out to discuss how I can assist you.
Let Me Guide Your Next Steps
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:
Frequently Asked Questions
Which court will my Lakewood case be heard in?
It depends on who filed the charge. Felonies and state-level misdemeanors go to the Jefferson County Combined Court in Golden, at 100 Jefferson County Parkway. Charges brought under Lakewood's municipal code, including a large share of traffic citations from Lakewood Police, stay at Lakewood Municipal Court on South Allison Parkway. Your summons or bond paperwork names the court and the date. Bring it to your consultation and I can tell you within minutes what forum you are in and what that means for your exposure.
Do I have to report a Lakewood arrest to my employer or licensing board?
Often yes, and often sooner than people expect. Many Colorado licensing boards and most federal clearance processes require disclosure of an arrest or a filed charge, not just a conviction, and some employment contracts set their own reporting windows. Jefferson County has a heavy concentration of licensed professionals, federal employees, and contractors, so this comes up constantly in my practice. Raise it during our first conversation. Reporting obligations can change which resolutions are acceptable, and that needs to shape the defense from the beginning rather than get discovered at the end.
What should I do before my first court date?
Stop discussing the incident. Not with police, not with the alleged victim, not in group texts, and not on social media, where prosecutors regularly find their best evidence. Read your bond conditions closely and follow them exactly, because violating a no-contact order creates a second case that is often easier to prove than the first. Write down everything you remember while it is fresh, including times, names, and who else was present. Then call a lawyer.
Contact Us
To make sure we’re a good fit, I offer a free consultation on the phone or in person. Contact me in whatever format works best for you – call, text, email, or fill out the form below ↓
Request a Call Back or In-Person
To get more information and set up a free consultation, fill out the form below.
Steel Law Criminal Defense
333 W. HAMPDEN AVE, SUITE 710
ENGLEWOOD, CO 80110
In the meantime, review our 10 things to do once you’ve been arrested.