Purposely setting fire to a building that doesn’t belong to you is charged as First Degree Arson in Fort Collins and Larimer County. Three firefighters are facing these Arson charges after setting fire to abandoned buildings so they could help put the out. Maybe it was just a slow day or rescuing cats from trees wasn’t doing it for them, but they apparently wanted to see some more action and took matters into their own hands to make it happen. According to the report, the men were volunteer fire fighters and set 5 abandoned houses on fire over a 3-month period. Their motive was not disclosed, but they were all present to help fight the fires with the rest of the company.
Larimer County First Degree Arson Lawyer: Definition of 1st Degree Arson with Firefighters in Boulder County
The Larimer and Boulder County, Colorado law definition of First Degree Arson – C.R.S. 18-4-102 – is:
The men would be charged with 1st Degree Arson for purposely setting fire to the abandoned buildings. If they can be tied to all of the fires, they will likely be charged with multiple counts of the First Degree Arson – 1 for each fire they started.
Sentence for First Degree Arson in Loveland and Estes Park
As a class 3 felony in Fort Collins, Loveland, and Estes Park, First Degree Arson is punishable by 4 to 12 years in the Colorado Department of Corrections and up to $750,000 in fines. The fines would not included restitution, which can be a very damaging part of an Arson case. Restitution is what the building owner reports as their financial loss related to the case and it becomes the defendant’s responsibility to pay it back. When you are talking about houses or buildings, even abandoned ones, the amount of restitution will likely be very high.
If you or someone you love has been charged with, accused of, or arrested for Arson, 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 your free consultation. Together, we can protect your future.
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