In Fort Collins and Larimer County, Domestic Violence, DV, is a sentence enhancer that can be added to any underlying crime when the two people involved have been or are currently in an intimate relationship. While any crime can be an act of Domestic Violence, there are four that we see very charged most often. Let’s take a closer look at these four common DV charges.
Larimer County Domestic Violence Harassment Lawyer: How is Harassment Charged in Colorado?
The Larimer County, Colorado law definition of Harassment – C.R.S. 18-9-111 – is:
(a) Strikes, shoves, kicks, or otherwise touches a person or subjects him to physical contact; or
(b) In a public place directs obscene language or makes an obscene gesture to or at another person; or
(c) Follows a person in or about a public place; or
(d) Repealed.
(e) Directly or indirectly initiates communication with a person or directs language toward another person, anonymously or otherwise, by telephone, telephone network, data network, text message, instant message, computer, computer network, computer system, or other interactive electronic medium in a manner intended to harass or threaten bodily injury or property damage, or makes any comment, request, suggestion, or proposal by telephone, computer, computer network, computer system, or other interactive electronic medium that is obscene; or
(f) Makes a telephone call or causes a telephone to ring repeatedly, whether or not a conversation ensues, with no purpose of legitimate conversation; or
(g) Makes repeated communications at inconvenient hours that invade the privacy of another and interfere in the use and enjoyment of another’s home or private residence or other private property; or
(h) Repeatedly insults, taunts, challenges, or makes communications in offensively coarse language to, another in a manner likely to provoke a violent or disorderly response.
Usually we see subsection (a) charged with Domestic Violence, when someone has physical contact with a significant other, but doesn’t cause any injury.
Loveland 3rd Degree Assault Domestic Violence Charges: How is Third Degree Assault Charged in Colorado?
In Loveland and across Colorado, Third Degree Assault – C.R.S. 18-3-204 – is defined as:
(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; or
(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.
The DV sentence enhancer would only be charged under subsection (a), where there is unwanted physical contact and injury occurs.
Fort Collins DV False Imprisonment Attorney: Colorado Law Definition of False Imprisonment
The Fort Collins, Colorado law definition of False Imprisonment – C.R.S. 18-3-303 – is:
This can be charged for something as simple as blocking a doorway for a moment in an attempt to continue a conversation.
Domestic Violence Criminal Mischief Charges in Colorado: Attorney for Criminal Mischief DV
The Colorado law definition of Criminal Mischief – C.R.S. 18-4-501 – is:
Criminal Mischief is charged based on the amount of damage caused.
If you or someone you love has been charged with a Domestic Violence case, 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.
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