Are you being accused of unlawful sexual contact in Colorado?

An accusation of unlawful sexual contact can turn your life upside down overnight. Even before a conviction, people often face arrest, protection orders, loss of employment, strained family relationships, and lasting damage to their reputation.

At Pav Law, we regularly defend clients accused of unlawful sexual contact across Colorado. These cases are often emotionally charged, factually complex, and heavily influenced by credibility issues—making early defense strategy critical.

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What is “unlawful sexual contact” under Colorado law?

In Colorado, Unlawful Sexual Contact law generally alleges that a person knowingly subjected another person to sexual contact without consent.

“Sexual contact” usually means the knowing touching of another person’s intimate parts for sexual arousal, gratification, or abuse. These cases often come down to disputed facts, unclear boundaries, alcohol involvement, or conflicting accounts of what happened.

Unlawful sexual contact charges can arise from situations involving:

• Misunderstandings or miscommunication
• Alcohol or intoxication
• Dating or prior relationships
• Workplace or social settings
• False or exaggerated allegations

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Misdemeanor penalties for unlawful sexual contact

Most unlawful sexual contact cases are charged as misdemeanors unless specific aggravating factors are alleged.

Unlawful Sexual Contact – Misdemeanor Penalties

Charge Level	Possible Jail Sentence	Possible Fine
Class 1 Misdemeanor	Up to 364 days in jail	Up to $1,000
Class 2 Misdemeanor	Up to 120 days in jail	Up to $750

Even misdemeanor convictions can carry serious collateral consequences, including mandatory sex offender registration, probation conditions, and lasting harm to employment and housing opportunities.

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When unwanted sexual contact becomes a felony

Unlawful sexual contact can be charged as a felony if the prosecution alleges aggravating factors such as:

• Use or threatened use of force
• Use of a deadly weapon
• Causing serious bodily injury
• Threats of retaliation or coercion

Felony Unlawful Sexual Contact Penalties

Felony Class	Presumptive Prison Sentence	Mandatory Parole
Class 4 Felony	2–6 years in prison	3 years

Felony charges dramatically increase the stakes and often come with far more restrictive bond conditions and long-term consequences.

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Sex offender registration consequences

A conviction for unlawful sexual contact may require sex offender registration, depending on the specific facts and charge level. Registration can affect where you live, where you work, and how you interact with the community.

In some cases, registration may be required for years—or even life—making early legal guidance especially important.

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How Pav Law defends unlawful sexual contact cases

These cases often hinge on credibility, intent, and context. Our defense strategies frequently focus on:

• Challenging whether the contact was actually non-consensual
• Exposing inconsistencies in statements or timelines
• Analyzing text messages, social media, and digital evidence
• Addressing intoxication claims and memory reliability
• Pushing back on exaggerated or false allegations
• Filing motions to exclude unreliable or prejudicial evidence

We understand how quickly these accusations can spiral—and how devastating they can be if not handled properly from the start.

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False accusations of unlawful sexual contact

Not every allegation of unwanted sexual contact is truthful or accurate. We regularly represent clients who are falsely accused or who find themselves facing criminal charges after a misunderstanding, a regretted encounter, or a situation that was later reinterpreted under pressure from others.

False or exaggerated accusations can arise from:

• Relationship conflicts or breakups
• Alcohol-related misunderstandings
• Miscommunications about consent
• Workplace or school disputes
• Attempts to gain leverage in custody, divorce, or civil matters

Once an allegation is made, law enforcement often moves forward without hearing the full story. Investigators may assume intent, fill in gaps, or rely heavily on a single narrative—especially in emotionally charged cases. That’s why early, strategic defense matters.

Our firm understands this reality on a personal level. Pav Law’s founding attorney, Andrew Brown, was himself falsely accused of sexual assault—an experience that permanently shaped how we approach these cases. Andrew knows firsthand how quickly an accusation can spiral, how isolating the process can feel, and how critical it is to have a defense team that takes your side seriously from day one.

You can read more about that experience here; Andrew’s story of being falsely accused of sexual assault.

When we defend clients against false accusations of unwanted sexual contact, we focus on uncovering the truth—by analyzing timelines, digital evidence, inconsistencies, motives, and credibility issues that are often overlooked early in an investigation. Our goal is not just damage control, but full accountability for the facts.

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What to do if you’re accused

If you are being investigated or charged with unlawful sexual contact:

• Do not speak to law enforcement without an attorney
• Do not attempt to contact the accuser
• Follow all bond or protection order conditions exactly
• Preserve messages, photos, and other potential evidence
• Contact a criminal defense lawyer as soon as possible

Early missteps can permanently limit your defense options.

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