Assault in the Third Degree is charged in Fort Collins, Colorado when one person renders minor bodily injury to another. Recently, Jayson Boebert – former husband of Colorado Representative Lauren Boebert – was arrested for Third Degree Assault and a plethora of other misdemeanor offenses. The charges stemmed from an “incident” that took place at a Colorado restaurant. Boebert has bonded out of the County Jail, but is still facing charges of Assault, Prohibited Use of Weapons, and several others. Events like these demonstrate that it’s easy to be charged with multiple crimes for something that may have happened in the span of mere minutes.
1. Larimer County Court Definition of Assault in the Third Degree, C.R.S. 18-3-204
The Larimer County Court definition of Assault in the Third Degree, C.R.S. 18-3-204, is as follows:
(a) The person knowingly or recklessly causes bodily injury to another person or with criminal negligence the person causes bodily injury to another person by means of a deadly weapon.
(b) The person, with intent to harass, annoy, threaten, or alarm another person whom the actor knows or reasonably should know to be a peace officer, a firefighter, an emergency medical care provider, or an emergency medical service provider, causes the other person to come into contact with blood, seminal fluid, urine, feces, saliva, mucus, vomit, or toxic, caustic, or hazardous material by any means, including throwing, tossing, or expelling the fluid or material.
Assault in the Third Degree is usually charged for causing another person non-serious bodily injury, such as cuts, bruises, or even just minor pain.
2. What Other Crimes are Charged with 3rd Degree Assault in Loveland and Estes Park?
As demonstrated by Jayson Boebert, 3rd Degree Assault frequently goes hand-in-hand with other criminal charges in Loveland and Estes Park. Depending on the circumstances, these can include:
- Domestic Violence – While Domestic Violence is a sentence enhancer, not a separate criminal charge, it is often added to a Third Degree Assault charge. This takes place when the accused person was in an intimate relationship at one point in time with the alleged victim.
- Harassment – One way Harassment is charged is for striking, shoving, or kicking another person. This can easily intersect with Assault in the Third Degree, given that its only requirement is to cause non-serious bodily injury to another person.
- Obstruction of a Peace Officer – Third Degree Assault can be charged for causing a Loveland Police Officer or other first responder to come into contact with a bodily fluid if the person intended to harass or cause alarm. In other words, merely spitting on a police officer can result in 3rd Degree Assault charges. Depending on the circumstances, this will more than likely result in additional charges, such as Obstruction of a Peace Officer or Resisting Arrest.
3. Penalties for Third Degree Assault in Fort Collins: Larimer County Jail Time and More
Conviction of Third Degree Assault in Fort Collins can entail penalties of up to 364 days in the Larimer County Jail, a fine of $1,000, or both. Note, however, that these penalties are for a conviction of 3rd Degree Assault alone. If you were charged with and subsequently convicted of other offenses, you may face additional penalties for those crimes as well. This can not only entail additional fines and jail time, but also personal consequences, such as a criminal record that can be difficult to seal.
If you have been charged with Assault in the Third Degree and other criminal offenses, don’t wait to contact a top Larimer County criminal defense lawyer. An experienced attorney can work to secure a solid plea bargain on your behalf, allowing you to only plead guilty to one of your charges. Depending on your case, the charges could even be dropped altogether. Call us today so that we can help you protect your future.
Have you been charged with Assault in the Third Degree? Exercise your right to remain silent – never discuss your charges with the Fort Collins Police or Larimer County Sheriff. Then call 970-658-0007 to get in contact with a top criminal defense lawyer at the O’Malley Law Office today. Together, we can protect your future.
The location for the Larimer County Courthouse is 201 Laporte Avenue, Fort Collins, Colorado. We’ll see you there!
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