Aggravated Motor Vehicle Theft is charged in Fort Collins and Lamer County when a person is accused of taking a vehicle that doesn’t belong to them without permission from the vehicle owner. I think most people have seen or heard about the crazy ‘Florida man’ news stories, and here’s one to add to the list. A man was recently arrested for Aggravated Motor Vehicle Theft of School Bus after he was seen driving erratically and flashing the bus lights. Police determined the bus had been stolen and when they tried to pull him over, he took off – I mean, can you really outrun the police in a school bus? Doesn’t seem like the greatest getaway vehicle. Anyways, he drove the bus into an embankment and ran from the bus, stripping naked as he ran. He was apprehended and police also noted the the man had a dead deer in the bus, which he claimed was going to be fertilizer for his garden. Bizarre indeed.
Larimer County Theft of School Bus: Definition of Aggravated Motor Vehicle Theft in Colorado
The Larimer County, 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.
There is also a Second Degree Aggravated Motor Vehicle Theft defined as:
Not a lot of detail was provided, but I think driving the bus into the embankment and almost tipping it over likely caused over $500 in damage to the school bus. This would mean an Aggravated Motor Vehicle Theft in the First Degree charge.
Sentence for Aggravated Motor Vehicle Theft of School Bus in Fort Collins, Loveland and Estes Park
In Fort Collins, Loveland and Estes Park, Aggravated Motor Vehicle Theft is charged based on the value of the vehicle stolen:
(a) Class 5 felony if the value of the motor vehicle or motor vehicles involved is less than twenty thousand dollars;
(a.5) 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;
(b) 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.
(a) Class 5 felony if the value of the motor vehicle or motor vehicles involved is twenty thousand dollars or more;
(b) Class 6 felony if the value of the motor vehicle or motor vehicles involved is two thousand dollars or more but less than twenty thousand dollars;
(c) Class 1 misdemeanor if the value of the motor vehicle or motor vehicles involved is less than two thousand dollars.
So, the value of the school bus would determine the charge level. While I have no idea how much a school bus costs, I would imagine it would be a felony Aggravated Motor Vehicle Theft of school bus as it probably costs more than $2,000.
If you or someone you love has been charged with Aggravated Motor Vehicle Theft, be smart, exercise your right to remain silent and contact the best criminal defense attorneys from the O’Malley Law Office at 970-658-0007 to schedule a free initial consultation. Together, we can protect your future.
Photo by Laker