H. Michael Steinberg has 42+ years of experience practicing Colorado criminal law. Mr. Steinberg strives to stay current with the ever changing aspects of criminal law issues and updates resulting in his extensive knowledge of successful criminal defense as well as appellate work. He is also an active member of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the Colorado Criminal Defense Bar Association, the Colorado Trial Lawyer's Association, and the Colorado and Arapahoe Bar Associations.

Articles Tagged with Colorado’s Fentanyl Death Enhancement

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Drug Distribution & Proximate Cause of Death: Colorado’s Fentanyl Death Enhancement Explained

Colorado prosecutors can charge a person who sold fentanyl with a level 1 drug felony, even for a small amount, if the sale is alleged to be the “proximate cause” of another person’s death.

That single phrase in C.R.S. § 18-18-405(2)(a)(III)(A) can move a case from a presumptive range of 2 to 4 years to a presumptive range of 8 to 32 years. In 2025, the Colorado Supreme Court explained what that phrase means in People v. Beverly, 2025 CO 18.

H. Michael Steinberg, a Denver metro criminal defense lawyer serving Adams, Denver, Douglas, and Arapahoe counties, provides an overview of what the Colorado statute says about certain crimes. He explains what the prosecution must prove in these cases and discusses how the Beverly case impacted the legal discussion about causation. Steinberg also outlines the most common defenses raised in these cases, helping readers understand potential defense strategies.

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