1. Prosecutor 101 MICHAEL W. MELITO
OFFICE of the COLORADO ATTORNEY GENERAL
SPECIAL PROSECUTION UNIT
May 8, 2012

2. WHAT’S THE POINT? • Why prosecute crime? - Stop the conduct
- Punishment
- General deterrence
- Specific deterrence
- Enforce community expectations
- Educate public
- Protect Society
conduct

3. Criminal Charging Decisions
Factors
Need for further investigation
Nature of the Offender
Nature of the Offense
Motive
Traditional Crimes
Voluntary Disclosure/Compliance
Cooperation with law enforcement
Preventative Measures Taken Subsequent
Criminal Charging Decisions

4. Charging by Information/Complaint
Filed Directly with the Court
Statutory language
No facts
Results in acquisition of Defendant to appear in court
Arrest
Summons

5. Pros/Cons of Information
Speed
Flexibility
Charging decisions made only by the prosecutorial team
Cons
Preliminary hearings
Increases motion practice

6. Charging by Indictment
Evidence presented to Grand Jury
Indictment drafted for Grand Jury
Deliberation to determine probable cause
Upon finding of probable cause, filed with court
Supervising court can order arrest and set bond amount

7. Pros/Cons of Indictment
No Preliminary Hearing
True Bill (usually)
Avoid allegations of malicious prosecution
Lessens Motion Practice
Evidentiary Rules
Lack of Cross Examination
Grand Juries are juries
Cons
Requires presentation of case
Indictments must contain facts relied upon to indict
Grand Juries are juries

8. You Will be Involved in:
The Criminal Process
You Will be Involved in:
• Investigations/Provide information for Search Warrants or Subpoenas◄
• Charging Methods
-Complaint/Information/Grand Jury ◄
• Pre-trial Hearings/Evidentiary Hearings ◄
• Trial ◄
• Sentencing ◄

9. Ultimately the Prosecutor Needs Jury Appeal
Give the case “APPEAL” (no pun intended)
Law & Order, JAG, Alley McBeal, A Few Good Men
Traffic Court is not exciting
Exploding things are exciting
Why should the jury care?
Theme/Story/Motive

10. Goals of Prosecutors Fairness Achieve Compliance with the Law
Deter wrongful behavior
Teach Public
Create or foster Initiative
Punish
Other

11. PREPARATION • Contact the prosecutor to meet
• Review ALL relevant writings
• Know your issues and your piece of the puzzle
• “I don’t know”… is OK…
• Bobby Knight: “5P’s”

12. • Prosecutors are actually nice people • Counter your ANXIETY
─ Thorough preparation
─ Discuss weaknesses of your case
─ Show the hard work of your company/agency to protect your company and/or the public

13. COMMON FINANCIAL CRIMES
Theft, §
Forgery, §
Attempt to Influence a Public Servant, § 
Identity Theft, § 
Tax Crimes (Evasion/Failure to Pay) § 
Money Laundering §
Colorado Organized Crime Control Act,
§  et seq.

14. Theft
1. in the State of Colorado, at or about the date and place charged,
2. knowingly,
3. obtained or exercised control over,
4. a thing of value,
5. without authorization, or by threat or deception,
6. with intent to permanently deprive the other of the use or benefit of the thing of value, and
7. the value of the thing involved is XXXXX, but less than XXXXX dollars.
(People v. Glenn Demarest and People v. Annabelle’s Restoration, LLC)

15. Forgery
1. In the State of Colorado on or about the date and place charged,
2. with the intent to defraud,
3. falsely made, completed, altered, or uttered a written instrument
4. which was or which purported to be, or which was calculated to become or to represent if completed
5. deed, will, codicil, contract, assignment, commercial instrument, promissory note, or other instrument which document did or may have evidenced, created, transferred, terminated, or otherwise affected a legal right, interest, obligation, or status
(People v. Ernie Colter, People v. Uto Essian)

16. Attempt to Influence a Public Servant
1. in the state of Colorado, at or about the date and place charged,
2. attempted to influence a public servant,
3. by means of deceit,
4. with the intent to alter or affect the public servant’s decision, vote, opinion, or action concerning any matter,
which was to be considered or performed by the public servant, agency or body of which he or she was a member.
(People v. Daniel Stonebarger)
Attempt to Influence a Public Servant

17. Identity Theft That the defendant,
1. in the State of Colorado, on or about the date and place charged,
2. with the intent to defraud,
3. falsely made, completed, altered, or uttered or attempted to falsely make, complete, alter,
4. or utter a written instrument or financial device containing personal identifying information,
or financial identifying information.
Of another. (Gemini and People v. Kelly Deal)

18. Tax Evasion
1. in the State of Colorado, at or about the date and place charged,
2. willfully attempted to evade or defeat a tax administered by the Colorado Department of Revenue,
3. or the payment thereof.

19. 1. In the State of Colorado on or about the date and place charged,
Money Laundering
1. In the State of Colorado on or about the date and place charged,
2. intentionally,
3. conducted a financial transaction involving property that was represented to be the proceeds of a criminal offense, or involving property that the defendant knew or believed to have been used to conduct or facilitate a criminal offense to:
4. [promote the commission of a criminal offense] OR [conceal or disguise the nature, location, source, ownership, or control of property the defendant believed to be the proceeds of a criminal offense] OR [avoid a transaction reporting requirement under federal law]
(New to me and CO. Generally, in the past = drug cases)

20. WHERE TO FIND COCCA Cases?
W T F COCCA Cases?
WHERE TO FIND COCCA Cases?

21. Violation Of The Colorado Organized Crime Control Act—Participation In An Enterprise
1. in the State of Colorado, at or about the date and placed charged,
2. while employed by, or associated with any enterprise,
3. knowingly,
4. conducted or participated, directly or indirectly, in such enterprise, through a pattern of racketeering activity.

22. Criminal Enterprise A A Criminal Behavior
Have CI sketch out how they think the group is organized
Criminal Behavior

23. Who are the targets?
“Bummer of a birthmark, Hal”
– Gary Larson

24. THE COURTROOM

25. COMING TO COURT • Check in • Sequestration • Refresh your recollection
• Proper Conduct
• Bring a book/Ipod

26. DRESSING FOR COURT • Dress as a professional
• If your agency/company regularly wears a uniform, wear it
• Look like you have been to court before
• First impression key to your credibility

27. Discovery Civil Discovery Criminal Discovery Work Product
Attorney/Client
Any other privileged material
Criminal Discovery
Rule 16
Work Product
…but “Brady Material”

28. Government has the burden of proof
─ Must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt
─ “. . . proof of such a convincing character that, after consideration, you would be willing to rely and act upon it without hesitation in your important affairs. A defendant is never to be convicted on mere suspicion or conjecture.”

29. POINTERS Discuss uncertainties
Mistakes will be made, keep an open mind, we will…
Opinions vs. Fact… tell us which
Be eager to do more investigation when requested

30. • Let the Justice System do its job ─ Honesty
─ Track all Evidence
• It is not a game or a contest

31. Sentencing Options Incarceration Probation Fines Restitution
Debarment (A civil action for defendants and corporate defendants)
Other options

32. Senior Assistant Attorney General
Michael W. Melito
Senior Assistant Attorney General
(303)