Centennial attorney Robert Werking, once on the defense team for Aurora dentist James Craig, pleaded guilty Thursday in Arapahoe County to two misdemeanor charges tied to a fire at his own house. Senior Judge Dinsmore Tuttle sentenced Werking to one year of probation, ordered mental health and substance use treatment, and required community service, while felony arson counts were dismissed. The plea wraps up Werking’s immediate criminal case but leaves lingering questions about his legal career and what it means for the higher-profile Craig prosecution.
According to The Denver Post, Werking, 60, admitted to possessing a firearm while under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance and to harassing his wife in an act of domestic violence. Prosecutors agreed to drop two felony arson counts as part of the deal, and the judge ordered Werking to complete 40 hours of community service. The Denver Post also reports that Werking apologized in court and entered an inpatient treatment facility immediately after his release from jail.
Werking’s legal and personal troubles first surfaced publicly in June 2025, when he was cited on a weapons violation and later arrested after deputies responded to a fire at his Centennial home and found him sitting on the porch, according to reporting on the case. In earlier coverage, CNN quoted his attorney, David Beller saying, "Being a defense lawyer necessarily means bearing the burden of living at all times in other people's trauma," and noted that Werking was seeking mental health treatment. The arrest quickly led Werking to withdraw from Craig’s defense team as the dentist’s murder case moved toward trial.
Werking and attorney Lisa Fine Moses had been appointed to represent James Craig, who is accused of poisoning his wife, so his sudden departure put a spotlight on an already fragile defense bench. Denver7 reported that Moses stayed on the case while Werking stepped away, forcing the defense to adjust strategy on the fly. Prosecutors continue to pursue multiple felony counts against Craig in Arapahoe County as the case moves ahead.
Legal Consequences And Treatment Order
Under the plea agreement, prosecutors pulled back the more serious arson counts and Werking avoided prison time, instead receiving probation that comes with mandatory treatment and community service, The Denver Post reports. Court filings also show that his Colorado law license is inactive because of a disability, a key detail for any future bid to return to practice. The sentence signals a focus on supervision and treatment rather than incarceration, based on the circumstances laid out in court.
What This Means Locally
The case’s resolution closes out Werking’s immediate criminal exposure but opens a wider conversation for regulators and clients about how licensing bodies respond when lawyers have documented mental health or substance use problems. Coverage in The Denver Gazette and other outlets tracked how Werking’s arrest disrupted the Craig defense, underscoring how quickly a high stakes criminal case can be jolted when a key attorney is suddenly sidelined. Observers say the episode is likely to surface in future debates about support systems for lawyers handling traumatic criminal work.
In court, Werking told the judge he was sorry and said he hoped to make amends through community service, and filings show he entered inpatient treatment after his release. CNN previously reported comments from his legal team emphasizing the role of mental health care in the aftermath of the fire and his arrest. Meanwhile, the Craig case continues in Arapahoe County, where jurors and the public will be watching how the murder trial plays out without Werking at the defense table.
