About

Before Lawyering

I have always been a protector. During my teenage, years I worked as a lifeguard mainly because I felt a great sense of pride knowing that I was prepared and ready to respond should a catastrophic event occur during my watch (fortunately I never had to make a rescue, but I was constantly on the lookout).

After high school, I immediately enlisted in the Air Force four days after my 18th birthday (in fact, I left school early, and the Air Force considered me a high school dropout). Undeterred, I served a total of 12-years on active duty in the United States Air Force. As a drone operator (I controlled the camera and weapons systems) I flew Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance missions (ISR) + Close Air Support (CAS) missions all in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan) and Operation Iraqi Freedom. I physically deployed to Iraq in 2009 as part of the launch and recovery element for my assigned aircraft (the MQ-1 Predator and the MQ-9 Reaper).

I’ve always been a hard worker–I attended college in the evenings and weekends throughout much of adult life and I was able to complete my bachelor’s degree during my enlistment (I even took classes during my deployment to Iraq, and I completely missed out on the typical college experience, but I wouldn’t have it any other way). I worked with a lot of pilots who inspired me to acquire my private pilot license in my free time…and they all said that I should consider putting in an application to attend Air Force Pilot training.

Shortly after being promoted to the rank of Staff Sergeant, and near the end of my 6-year enlistment contract, I put in my application for pilot training–I actually was not expecting to be selected, and I had intended to get out of the Air Force and attend law school. To my surprise, I was selected! I went off to Air Force Officer Training School followed by Air Force undergraduate pilot training at Laughlin AFB, Texas, and at Fort Rucker, Alabama, earning my Air Force pilot wings in 2014. I went down the helicopter route (yes, the Air Force has helicopters), but I did earn commercial pilot licenses in both Airplanes and Helicopters along the way! I was assigned to the UH-1N “Huey” helicopter where I flew missile field security and search and rescue operations over the plains of Wyoming, Colorado, and Nebraska. After 12-years on Active Duty, I was honorably discharged as I began to pursue my law school dreams.

As a Trial Attorney

At the core of my soul, I’m still a trailer park kid who did not have a lot of opportunities growing up. I’ve always considered myself to be an underdog in all of my endeavors, but I’m definitely scrappy in a fight which I think helps me tremendously as a trial attorney. Just before I deployed to Iraq in 2009, I read a book about a criminal defense attorney, and I quickly became interested in criminal procedure and law. I put my lawyering desires on hold for many years, but fortunately I was able to pursue my dream to attend law school after I was honorably discharged from the Air Force.

Law school was no breeze for me. I never had any issues academically, but I had to work my butt off to succeed–I felt disadvantaged in comparison to some of my classmates who knew how it all worked. I had never even met an attorney (to my knowledge) prior to attending law school, and I felt as if many of my classmates had a head start by growing up with attorneys in their families. I kinda just had to pave my own way, and I’m so glad that I did. I may not have received any academic awards from law school, but my peers did vote me as being the “most likely to “swing a jury”.

As a law student, I interned with the District Attorney’s office in Pueblo, Colorado. Working in the county courtrooms, I had over 20-trials under my belt by the time I took the Colorado Bar exam. I graduated from the Colorado District Attorney’s Counsel “Trial Techniques School”, which is a weeklong program designed to turn brand new attorneys into formidable criminal trial attorneys. Over the two and half years I worked as a criminal prosecutor with that office, I conducted over 40 criminal jury trials for all sorts of cases including low level traffic offenses, domestic violence, driving under the influence, assault, menacing, fraud, and I was handpicked to special prosecute a felony matter in a neighboring county.

At the end of the day, I always knew that I wanted to become a criminal defense attorney–and one day in 2024, I woke up and my brain told me that it was time to walk away from my job as a prosecutor. I actually had not intended to jump right into criminal defense, but when the opportunity presented itself….I just knew I had to take it.

Pueblo is important to me–it’s the home that I chose to live in after I left the Air Force, and it is where I have laid roots now with my family. Although I have only lived here for about 5-years (as of 2025), this is the longest that I have ever lived in any community as an adult (thanks Air Force for making a nomad until now). I had the amazing opportunity to participate in “Leadership Pueblo” which is a community driven leadership program put together by the Pueblo Chamber of Commerce. Serving as the class president for the class of 2024, it renewed my love for this city and the surrounding communities. If you are looking for a criminal defense attorney in Colorado, please do not hesitate to reach out to me. Even if I cannot help you, I’m certain that I’ll be able to point you in the right direction.