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    Feb 06

    Revisiting The Colorado Drug Crime Wobbler Law 18-1.3-103.5 In 2018

    Colorado Drug Crime Plea Bargains, Colorado Wobbler Law, Uncategorized
    Revisiting The Colorado Drug Crime Wobbler Law 18-1.3-103.5 In 2018

    By H. Michael Steinberg Colorado Drug Crimes Criminal Defense Lawyer – Attorney

    Revisiting The Colorado Drug Crime Wobbler Law 18-1.3-103.5 In 2018 – Colorado’s Wobbler law 18-1.3-103 is alive, well and working in 2018. The Colorado Court Of Appeals has described the purpose of Colorado’s Wobbler Law is to allow offenders to “avoid a drug felony conviction” and its concomitant adverse collateral consequences if they successfully complete their community-based sentences. § 18-1.3-103.5(1)

    The “Wobbler” – A Weird Name For A Compassionate Law

    A Wobbler is a kind of deferred sentencing alternative where the case is charged and a plea is entered as to a felony – but the plea agreement has the capacity of “wobbling” down to a misdemeanor.

    The “wobbler” provisions of C.R.S. Section 18-1.3-103.5 provide that, if a Defendant qualifies and is offered a Wobbler – after that drug offender successfully completes a probationary sentence, the drug felony conviction  – usually a Class 4 Drug Felony – will be reduced to a drug misdemeanor conviction for certain offenses.

    Once the charge is reduced from the felony, it is considered a misdemeanor and the significant “collateral consequences” that result from a felony conviction, (such as having to disclose the conviction on job applications or the loss of the right to bear arms because of a felony conviction), are removed.

    The statute contains a single legal mandate: if the Defendant successfully completes his sentence to probation or community corrections, the Court MUST substitute a misdemeanor conviction for the original felony conviction.

    Eligibility To Take Advantage Of The Wobbler Law Means Jumping Through A Few Hopes

    Eligibility For The Wobbler

    As of October 2013, under 18-1.3-102 C.R.S. if you are convicted of the following offenses – you are eligible to apply for the Wobbler law:

    Possession of a controlled substance under Colorado 18-18-403.5 C.R.S., provided the quantity of the controlled substance is not more than:

    • 4 grams of a schedule I or schedule II controlled substance (including, without limitation, cocaine, ecstasy or PCP),
    • 2 grams of methamphetamine, heroin, ketamine, or cathinones (“Bath Salts”), or
    • 4 milligrams of flunitrazepam (Rohypnol);
    • A Colorado level 4 drug felony under 18-18-405 C.R.S., unlawful distribution, manufacturing, dispensing, or sale of a controlled substance;
    • Possession of more than 12 ounces of marijuana or more than 3 ounces of marijuana concentrate; or
    • Obtaining a controlled substance by fraud or deceit in violation of 18-18-415 C.R.S.

    Eligibility Exclusions:

    You are not eligible for Wobbler sentencing if:

    You have a prior conviction for a crime in any state or territory of the United States (including Colorado) that would constitute a Colorado crime of violence;

    You are ineligible for probation (under18-1.3-201 C.R.S.) because you have two prior felony convictions or any conviction for a violent crime or serious sexual offense); or

    You have two or more prior felony convictions for a drug offense anywhere in the United States or a U.S. territory.

    Important note: Expanded Definition Of Felony “Conviction”

    A Felony Conviction for the purposes of this law includes:

    1. Any diversion, deferred prosecution, or deferred judgment and sentence, whether or not completed, for a felony,

    2.Any conviction entered as a result of relief previously granted pursuant to this section or as a result of a guilty plea to a misdemeanor originally charged as a felony drug offense.

    How Long To Wobble Down From A Felony To A Misdemeanor?

    The relevant law – 18-1.3-102 C.R.S., allows the Judge to defer sentencing on certain felony drug charges for up to four years after a plea or a finding of guilty. The delay is to give the Defendant time to complete a drug-treatment program.

    Every Colorado Judicial District Employs It’s Own Procedures To Make The Transition Wobble “Happen”

    Upon successful completion of drug treatment and any other court-ordered conditions of probation, the Judge will:

    • Vacate the felony drug conviction, and

    • Enter a conviction for Colorado level 1 drug misdemeanor drug possession under 18-18-403.5 C.R.S.

    The Wobbler statute, as noted above,  contemplates that vacating the original felony conviction will occur only after successful completion of the defendant’s sentence to probation or community corrections and without a sentencing hearing.

    How This “Wobbler Thing” Actually Works In Court

    The Wobbler law does not provide for a “procedural mechanism” for re-sentencing a Defendant who complies with the Wobbler law. The Judge determines “without a jury” and with “notice to the district attorney and defendant” whether the Defendant has successfully completed his community-based sentence, and then vacates the felony conviction. § 18-1.3-103.5(2)(b).

    As of 2018, the Colorado Wobbler Law is less than 5 years old. When, on October 1, 2013, CRS 18-1.3-103.5 (The Wobbler Law) became effective. Every Colorado Judicial District generated only When an eligible Defendant is sentenced to and successfully completes a community-based sentence for an eligible offense (generally DF4 drug felony offenses), the felony conviction is vacated and the conviction is re-entered as a DM1 drug misdemeanor.

    The Colorado Ninth Judicial District – Glenwood Springs has issued the following Chief Judge Directive that nicely outlines the common steps to comply with this statute.

    The protocol below is followed for those Defendants who are eligible (see CRS 18-13-103.5 (4) (a),(b),(c)(I), (c)(II)).

    I. Upon a Plea of Guilty or Finding of Guilty for a crime as per CRS 18-1.3-103.5 (3), and if the defendant is sentenced to Community Corrections or Probation (Community-based sentence) as per CRS 18-1.3-103 (1):

    A. Upon entering a community-based sentence, the court shall set a review date approximately one month before the projected time a sentence will be completed.

    B. Approximately six weeks before the review date, the clerk of the court will send a notice to the Defendant, District Attorney, and Probation on a standardized form providing the date of sentence, the projected completion date, and request information as to whether the sentence has been completed successfully

    II. Report Upon Completion of Sentence

    A. If the defendant is placed on supervised probation or sentenced to Community Corrections, the 9th Judicial District Probation Department shall complete a report as to whether the sentence has been successfully completed, including successful completion of court-ordered treatment and other terms of supervision.

    B. If the individual is on unsupervised probation, the District Attorney shall complete a report as to whether the individual has successfully completed the community based sentence.

    C. The defendant may also file a report addressing successful completion.

    D. The above report(s) shall be filed not less than seven days prior to the review date.

    E. The Defendant need not appear on the review date unless ordered to do so by the Court. If any party desires a hearing on the issue of successful completion, the party shall make the request for a hearing by inclusion of such a request in a report timely filed as set forth above. If the Court determines a further hearing is warranted, whether upon the motion of a party or upon the Court’s own motion, the hearing shall be scheduled on a date after the review date as determined by the Court with notice to the parties.

    III. Whether a sentence is successfully completed shall be determined by the court as per CRS 18-1.3-103.5(2)(b).

    A. If the court determines that the defendant has successfully completed the community-based sentence, the Court shall order the DF4 conviction be vacated and a DM1 conviction be entered in accordance with CRS 18-1.3-103.5, unless the defendant is otherwise ineligible for relief as provided in CRS 18-1.3-103.5(4).

    B. If the Court determines that the defendant has not successfully completed the community-based sentence, the DF4 conviction shall remain as is without modification.

     

    Here is the Colorado Wobbler Law 18-1.3-103.5:

    Colorado Revised Statutes Title 18 Criminal Code § 18-13-1035 Felony Convictions – Vacate And Enter Conviction On Misdemeanor After

    (1) In order to expand opportunities for offenders to avoid a drug felony conviction, to reduce the significant negative consequences of that felony conviction, and to provide positive reinforcement for drug offenders who work to successfully complete any community-based sentence imposed by the court, the legislature hereby creates an additional opportunity for those drug offenders who may not otherwise have been eligible for or successful in other statutorily created programs that allow the drug offender to avoid a felony conviction, such as diversion or deferred judgment.

    (2)(a) In a case in which the defendant enters a plea of guilty or is found guilty by the court or a jury for a crime listed in subsection (3) of this section, the court shall order, upon successful completion of any community-based sentence to probation or to a community corrections program, the drug felony conviction vacated and shall enter a conviction for a level 1 drug misdemeanor offense of possession of a controlled substance pursuant to section 18-18-403.5 .  Upon entry of the judgment of conviction pursuant to section 18-18-403.5 , the court shall indicate in its order that the judgment of conviction is entered pursuant to the provisions of this section.

    (b) Whether a sentence is successfully completed shall be determined by the court without a jury with notice to the district attorney and the defendant or the defendant’s attorney of record.  A community-based sentence is not successfully completed if the defendant has not successfully completed the treatment as ordered by the court and determined appropriate to address the defendant’s treatment needs.

    (3) This section applies to convictions for the following offenses:

    (a) Possession of a controlled substance;  but only when the quantity of the controlled substance is not more than four grams of a schedule I or schedule II controlled substance, not more than two grams of methamphetamine, heroin, ketamine, or cathinones, or not more than four milligrams of flunitrazepam. The district attorney and defendant may stipulate to the amount of the controlled substance possessed by the defendant at the time of sentencing, or the court shall determine the amount at the time of sentencing.

    (b) A level 4 drug felony for distribution pursuant to the provisions of section 18-18-405(2)(d)(II) ;

    (c) Possession of more than twelve ounces of marijuana or more than three ounces of marijuana concentrate;  or

    (d) A violation of section 18-18-415 .

    (4) Notwithstanding any provision of this section to the contrary, a defendant is not eligible for relief under this section if:

    (a) The defendant has a prior conviction for a crime of violence as described in section 18-1.3-406 or a prior conviction for an offense that is required to be sentenced pursuant to the provisions of section 18-1.3-406 in this state, or a crime in another state, the United States, or any territory subject to the jurisdiction of the United States that would be a crime of violence or an offense required to be sentenced pursuant to the provisions of section 18-1.3-406 in this state;

    (b) The defendant is ineligible for probation pursuant to section 18-1.3-201 ;  or

    (c)(I) The defendant has two or more prior felony convictions for a drug offense pursuant to this title, or a crime in another state, the United States, or any territory subject to the jurisdiction of the United States that would be a drug offense violation of this title.

    (II) For purposes of this paragraph (c), a felony conviction includes any diversion, deferred prosecution, or deferred judgment and sentence, whether or not completed, for a felony, and any conviction entered as a result of relief previously granted pursuant to this section or as a result of a guilty plea to a misdemeanor offense, as described in article 18 of this title, originally charged as a felony drug offense, as described in article 18 of this title.

    Revisiting The Colorado Drug Crime Wobbler Law 18-1.3-103.5 In 2018

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    H. Michael Steinberg Best Colorado Criminal Defense LawyerABOUT THE AUTHOR: H. Michael Steinberg – Email The Author at:

    [email protected]

    A Denver Colorado Criminal Defense Lawyer – or call his office at 303-627-7777 during business hours – or call his cell if you cannot wait and need his immediate assistance – please call 720-220-2277.

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    Revisiting The Colorado Drug Crime Wobbler Law 18-1.3-103.5 In 2018
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    Revisiting The Colorado Drug Crime Wobbler Law 18-1.3-103.5 In 2018
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    Colorado’s Wobbler law 18-1.3-103 is alive, well and working in 2018. The Colorado Court Of Appeals has described the purpose of Colorado’s Wobbler Law is to allow offenders to "avoid a drug felony conviction" and its concomitant adverse collateral consequences if they successfully complete their community-based sentences. § 18-1.3-103.5(1
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