It’s never a good thing to be charged with a crime in Fort Collins, Loveland, or Estes Park. It’s really not a good thing to be charged with 29 crimes, like a local man who went on what most are referring to as a crime spree last month. According to the news report, the crime spree lasted 14 hours, during which multiple people were threatened, shot, and injured. The laundry list of crimes included Aggravated Robbery, Felony Menacing, Vehicular Eluding, Child Abuse, Vehicular Assault and Aggravated Motor Vehicle Theft. While not all the details of his alleged spree have been released, the man is accused of pointing a gun at a taxi driver and taking his car (Aggravated Robbery, Felony Menacing, and Aggravated Vehicle Theft), hitting a woman and her two children in their car (Vehicular Assault and Child Abuse) and trying to evade the police (Vehicular Eluding). The man appeared before a Larimer County Court judge this week, where all his charges were read to him.
Fort Collins Aggravated Motor Vehicle Theft in the First Degree Lawyer: What is the Definition of Aggravated Motor Vehicle Theft?
The Colorado law definition of Aggravated Motor Vehicle Theft – C.R.S. 18-4-409 – is:
(a) Retains possession or control of the motor vehicle for more than twenty-four hours; or
(b) Attempts to alter or disguise or alters or disguises the appearance of the motor vehicle; or
(c) Attempts to alter or remove or alters or removes the vehicle identification number; or
(d) Uses the motor vehicle in the commission of a crime other than a traffic offense; or
(e) Causes five hundred dollars or more property damage, including but not limited to property damage to the motor vehicle involved, in the course of obtaining control over or in the exercise of control of the motor vehicle; or
(f) Causes bodily injury to another person while he or she is in the exercise of control of the motor vehicle; or
(g) Removes the motor vehicle from this state for a period of time in excess of twelve hours; or
(h) Unlawfully attaches or otherwise displays in or upon the motor vehicle license plates other than those officially issued for the motor vehicle.
Based on the information provided in the article, the man would be facing the First Degree Aggravated Motor Theft charge for part (d) and (f). By attempting to elude the police officer while in the stolen car, he allegedly committed another crime while in the vehicle. He is also accused of ramming another vehicle, causing bodily injury to a mother and her two children, which would correspond to part (f).
What is the Sentence / Punishment for 1st Degree Aggravated Motor Vehicle Theft in Loveland?
Aggravated Motor Vehicle Theft in the 1st Degree in Larimer, Boulder, and Grand County can be charged as a class 3, class 4, or class 5 felony depending on the value of the vehicle and / or if it is a second or subsequent Motor Vehicle Theft for the defendant. Aggravated Motor Vehicle Theft in the first degree is a:
- Class 5 felony if the value of the motor vehicle or motor vehicles involved is less than twenty thousand dollars;
- Class 4 felony if the value of the motor vehicle or motor vehicles involved is twenty thousand dollars or more but less than one hundred thousand dollars;
- Class 3 felony if the value of the motor vehicle or motor vehicles involved is more than one hundred thousand dollars or if the defendant has twice previously been convicted or adjudicated of charges separately brought and tried either in this state or elsewhere of an offense involving theft of a motor vehicle under the laws of this state, any other state, the United States, or any territory subject to the jurisdiction of the United States.
Most likely, the value of the vehicle was between $20,000 and $100,000, making it a class 4 felony Aggravated Motor Vehicle Theft. This level charge is punishable by 2 to 6 years in the Colorado Department of Corrections and up to $500,000 in fines.