When a person is arrested a crime in Fort Collins / Larimer County and it is considered an act of Domestic Violence, a mandatory protection order must be put in place before the person can be released from custody. It doesn’t matter what the allegation is. It could be something as serious as an Assault resulting in serious bodily injury or as menial as Harassment for repeated insults. A protection order is entered in EVERY domestic violence case. Often, we are contacted by the alleged victim and one of the most upsetting parts for them is that this protection order is in place. And, when the judge refuses to modify the protection order, even when the victim and defendant want to have contact, it often leads to new charges – Violation a Protection Order.
Larimer County Crime of Violating a Protection Order Attorney: Definition of Violating a Protection Order in Colorado
The Larimer County, Colorado law definition of Crime of Violation of a Protection Order – C.R.S. 18-6-803.5 – is:
(a) Contacts, harasses, injures, intimidates, molests, threatens, or touches the protected person or protected property, including an animal, identified in the protection order or enters or remains on premises or comes within a specified distance of the protected person, protected property, including an animal, or premises or violates any other provision of the protection order to protect the protected person from imminent danger to life or health, and such conduct is prohibited by the protection order;
(b) Except as permitted pursuant to section 18-13-126 (1)(b), hires, employs, or otherwise contracts with another person to locate or assist in the location of the protected person; or
(c) Violates a civil protection order issued pursuant to section 13-14-105.5, C.R.S., or pursuant to section 18-1-1001 (9) by:
(I) Possessing or attempting to purchase or receive a firearm or ammunition while the protection order is in effect; or
(II) Failing to timely file a receipt or written statement with the court as described in section 13-14-105.5 (9), C.R.S., or in section 18-1-1001 (9)(i) or 18-6-801 (8)(i).
If there is a protection order entered against you for your criminal case, and you contact the protected party, you are subject to a new criminal charge. Whether the contact between you and the protected party is caught accidentally or the protected party ‘tells’ on you because you said something they didn’t like and this is an easy way to get back at you, the restrained person is the only one who could face new charges for the contact.
If you or someone you love has been charged with Violating a Protection Order, 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 initial consultation. Together, we can protect your future.
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