John Scott represents persons alleged to have committed crimes in Leadville and Lake, Summit, Eagle and Chaffee Counties.
John has been focusing almost exclusively on criminal law matters since 2005. He has successfully tried many criminal jury trials and negotiated results favorable to his clients in hundreds of criminal cases. John has tried jury trials in cases involving first degree murder, sexual assault, kidnapping, violent assaults, aggravated motor vehicle theft, aggravated robbery, habitual criminal counts, weapons charges, drug trafficking, driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, domestic violence, and many other types of charges.
In 2010, John retired from the United States Marine Corps Reserves as a Lieutenant Colonel. His most recent duty assignment was as appellate counsel assigned to the Navy and Marine Corps Appellate Review Activity in Washington, D.C. He is a veteran of the First Gulf War (Operation Desert Storm) where he served as an artillery officer in the lead ground attack into Kuwait and of Operation Iraqi Freedom, where he served as the Chief Prosecutor for the Marines in Iraq during 2004.
After practicing for many years in Denver and all of the front range counties, in 2015, John began to transition his practice to the mountains. John now lives in Leadville, Colorado and practices mostly in Lake, Summit, Eagle, Clear Creek and Chaffee Counties.
- Criminal Law
- Drug Crimes, Fraud, Gun Crimes, Internet Crimes, Sex Crimes, Theft, Violent Crimes
- DUI & DWI
- Domestic Violence
- Domestic Violence Criminal Defense, Domestic Violence Restraining Orders
- Traffic Tickets
- Suspended License
- Drug Crimes
- Felony and Misdemeanor Crimes
- Theft and Property Crimes
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Free Consultation
Free consultation in Criminal and DUI cases. Payment plans may be available. - Credit Cards Accepted
- Colorado
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- United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces
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- United States District Court for the District of Colorado
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- Spanish: Spoken, Written
- Owner
- John Scott, Attorney at Law, LLC
- - Current
- Solo practitioner attorney focusing on criminal defense and impaired driving matters.
- Government Appellate Counsel
- Navy and Marine Corps Appellate Review Activity
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- Judge Advocate (Attorney)
- United States Marine Corps
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- As a judge advocate, John served at the Deputy Director at the Joint Legal Assistance Office and as trial counsel (prosecutor) at Camp Pendleton, California from 1995-1998. John served in the Marine Corps Reserves from 2002 through 2010 as a Site Judge Advocate, as trial counsel while deployed to Iraq, and as government appellate counsel.
- Lieutenant Colonel, United States Marine Corps Reserves, Retired
- United States Marine Corps
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- The University of Denver Sturm College of Law
- J.D. (1995) | Law
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- Honors: Top Student, Trial Practice Best Speaker, Moot Court Appellate Team
- Activities: Moot Court Appellate Traveling Team Moot Court Trial Traveling Team
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- University of Colorado - Boulder
- B.A. (1987) | Spanish
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- Honors: Marine Corps ROTC Scholarship Battalion Executive Officer
- Activities: Navy ROTC (Marine Option) Traveling Drill Team Traveling Rifle Team Physical Fitness Team
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- Meritorious Service Medal
- United States Marine Corps
- Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (Three Awards)
- United States Marine Corps
- Combat Action Ribbon
- United States Marine Corps
- Best Speaker, Barrister's Cup Appellate Advocacy Competition
- University of Denver College of Law
- National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
- Member
- Current
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- Colorado Criminal Defense Bar Association
- Member
- Current
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- National College for DUI Defense
- Member
- Current
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- Continental Divide Bar Association
- Member
- Current
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- Colorado Bar Association
- Member
- Current
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- Colorado State Bar # 25911
- Member
- - Current
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- Q. Can officers impound car and take things they didn't give a reciept for?
- A: If a vehicle is impounded, there should be an inventory conducted prior to impound. The owner should receive a receipt for any items removed from the vehicle. If a vehicle is searched pursuant to a warrant or some other lawful search, items removed from the vehicle may be listed either on the owner's property list (if detained) or on a list of items seized for evidentiary purposes. Police departments should have policies and procedures associated with impounding vehicles that may be requested from the respective department.
- Q. Do I have a case for self-defense?
- A: Based upon the factual scenario you have described it sounds like self-defense is a viable argument. Self-defense is an affirmative defense and must be raised prior to trial. There must be some evidence presented at trial relating to the defense or else the judge will not provide the instruction to the jury.
If the affirmative defense of self-defense is presented at trial, the prosecution must prove to a jury beyond a reasonable doubt that you were not acting in self-defense.
