Criminal defense for allegations of violent crimes is important not only for those accused, but for all Colorado citizens. All of our nation's citizens are protected by basic constitutional rights. Those rights are never more vital than they are to someone facing a substantial prison term, or worse. At a time when preliminary reports of a crime spree garner the attention of the public, the role of a criminal defense attorney is to take a careful look at each aspect of the investigation and subsequent charges.

On August 10, two brothers and a sister dubbed by the media as the "Dougherty Gang" were arrested in Colorado. They were hunted nationwide for purportedly shooting at a police officer in Florida after a high-speed chase. They are suspected for later robbing a bank in Georgia. It was during the robbery that reports state that the suspects fired a machine gun into the bank's ceiling.

Early reports indicated the three may have been headed to Colorado, and claimed sightings at a Wal-Mart and REI in southern Colorado fueled the intrigue. Unconfirmed reports indicated that the three crashed their car after a police chase; at times reaching speeds of up to 100 mph. All three were captured by authorities.

Whether or not all three suspects are guilty will need to be decided in a court of law. However, it is important to recognize the individual facts of each allegation must be considered as they may or may not apply to each individual defendant. The penalties for the crimes they are accused of are very severe. A Colorado attorney with a background in defending allegations of violent crimes may prove to be an invaluable asset in their defense.

Source: The Online News Website, "Dougherty Sibling Criminal Gang Caught In Colorado," Hannah Godean, Aug. 10, 2011