Zeeland, MI Criminal Defense Law Firms & Lawyers

It is unlikely that the prosecuting attorney will dismiss their case against you even if your wife has a change of heart. Therefore, if you do not retain counsel, you will be moving through the criminal justice system without having any experience or professional advice to help. Your permanent record, gun rights, and liberty will be at risk during this process. Given all this, it is your best bet to have an attorney.

Yes, there is a statute of limitations which applies to the prosecution of most State crimes in Colorado. The general rule is that the State must File charges no later than 18 months from the date of the crime and 3 years for felonies. There are some exceptions for theft, fraud, murder, sex crimes on a child, to name a few such exceptions. Further, if you left the state after the commission of the crime that may toll the application of the statute of limitations. Also if a warrant was issued that may also toll the application of the statute of limitations. You should contact a criminal defense attorney to get more specific and precise information, The attorney will have to know the specific crime. Battery is usually a city Ordinance crime.

Technically, it is the state, or the prosecution acting on behalf of the people who press charges. They can and sometimes will proceed, with or without your cooperation. They have the power to subpoena and you would have to appear and testify to the truth under penalty of perjury. With that being said, the prosecution prefers to proceed on a case with the complaining witness's cooperation. They don't like proceeding with a case without the victim's cooperation, but they can and sometimes they do. You can contact the prosecutor and state that you do not wish for them to continue the case against your friend and the reasons why. In the end, that is the best you can do because the final decision is up to the prosecutor.