Crimes Against At-Risk Persons, C.R.S. 18-6.5-103, are charged in Larimer County, Colorado when a person commits a crime against a person who is considered at-risk. Colorado’s “at-risk” designation is applied to elder adults over the age of 70, or any person with a disability as defined under C.R.S. 18-6.5-102. Because at-risk persons are susceptible to abuse and less able to defend themselves, defendants convicted of crimes with at-risk victims at the Larimer County Courts are punished harshly. For that reason, you will need a top Fort Collins lawyer if you have been charged with a crime against an at-risk person. Below, our top criminal defense lawyers discuss:
Navigate this blog:3. What are the Penalties for a Crime Committed Against an At-Risk Person in Loveland? 4. Why You Need the Best Larimer County Criminal Defense Lawyer |
1. What are Crimes Against At-Risk Persons, C.R.S. 18-6.5-103 at the Larimer County Courts in Colorado?
Crimes Against At-Risk Persons, C.R.S. 18-6.5-103, as used at the Larimer County Courts in Colorado, are offenses committed against people who are deemed “at-risk” due to age or an intellectual and developmental disability, or who have a physical disability. Some crimes against at-risk persons that can be charged include, but are not limited to:
- Criminal negligence that results in bodily injury, serious bodily injury, or death of an at-risk person
- Abandonment of an At-Risk Elder
- False Imprisonment
- Assault in the Third Degree, Assault in the Second Degree, and Assault in the First Degree
- Theft and Robbery
- Sexual offenses: Unlawful Sexual Contact, Sexual Assault, and Sexual Assault on a Child
- Caretaker Neglect
2. Who is an “At Risk” Person, C.R.S. 18-6.5-102 in Fort Collins? – Persons with a Disability, At-Risk Elders, At-Risk Juveniles, and At-Risk Adults with IDD
In Fort Collins, an “at-risk person,” C.R.S. 18-6.5-102, is defined as “an at-risk adult, an at-risk adult with IDD, an at-risk elder, or an at-risk juvenile.” These terms are further defined as follows:
At-risk juvenile:
At-risk elder:
At-risk adult:
At-Risk Adult with IDD:
Person with a Disability:
(a) Is impaired because of the loss of or permanent loss of use of a hand or foot or because of blindness or the permanent impairment of vision of both eyes to such a degree as to constitute virtual blindness;
(b) Is unable to walk, see, hear, or speak;
(c) Is unable to breathe without mechanical assistance;
(d) Is a person with an intellectual and developmental disability as defined in section 25.5-10-202, C.R.S.;
(e) Has a mental health disorder, as defined in section 27-65-102;
(f) Is mentally impaired as the term is defined in section 24-34-501 (1.3)(b)(II), C.R.S.;
(g) Is blind as that term is defined in section 26-2-103 (3), C.R.S.; or
(h) Is receiving care and treatment for a developmental disability under article 10.5 of title 27, C.R.S.
3. What are the Penalties for Crimes Against At-Risk Persons in Loveland?
The penalties for a crime against an at-risk victim depend on a variety of elements, including:
- Intent – Whether the offense was committed with criminal negligence, recklessly, knowingly, or intentionally.
- Offense – The specific offense committed against the at-risk victim will impact the defendant’s sentence. Some crimes against at-risk persons are misdemeanors, whereas others are high-level felony crimes.
- Outcome – If a defendant’s behavior amounted to criminal negligence, the sentence depends on whether bodily injury, severe bodily injury, or death resulted to the at-risk victim.
- Value of item taken – Sentences for Theft or Criminal Exploitation depend largely on the value of the money or item stolen from the at-risk person.
Often, the classification of the offense increases by one degree when the victim is at-risk. As an example, Assault in the Third Degree, C.R.S. 18-3-204, is a class 1 misdemeanor. If the victim of 3rd Degree Assault is considered at-risk, however, it is instead charged as a class 6 felony. In the latter case, conviction will likely result in much more severe consequences – including time at the Colorado Department of Corrections.
4. Why You Need the Best Larimer County Criminal Defense Lawyer
If you have been charged with a crime against an at-risk person, you need the best Larimer County criminal defense lawyer to represent you. Throughout your case, you will be treated as a criminal who took advantage of an at-risk person’s vulnerability. The District Attorney prosecuting your case at the Larimer County Courts will fight hard to ensure that you are convicted and face unduly harsh penalties. You need an experienced criminal defense lawyer on your side who will fight just as fiercely against the Court’s negative perception of you. Don’t wait to call – having an experienced attorney means the difference between whether you spend several years of your life behind bars, or whether you spend those years living in freedom.
Have you been accused of a crime against an at-risk person? First, exercise your right to remain silent, and do not talk to law enforcement. Then, call 970-658-0007 to talk to a top Fort Collins criminal defense lawyer today about your case. 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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