Felony Contributing the Delinquency of a Minor
Could Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor become a Misdemeanor?

Lawmakers are considering making felony Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor into a misdemeanor depending on the situation. Read more here.

Felony Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor is charged in Fort Collins and Larimer County when a person is accused of encouraging or allowing someone under the age of 18 to break the law. The problem we have ALWAYS had with this law is how broad it is. It is a class 4 felony crime, but the actions that can result in this charge vary so greatly. For example, a parent could be charged for allowing their teenager’s friends to drink at their home and then one drives home and gets in an accident. The same charge would apply to that parent for having their teenager’s friends out past a municipal curfew. Breaking a low-level municipal crime could result in the same felony charge as the major issue that caused injury to someone. So, when I read that lawmakers are considering making some Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor situations a misdemeanor instead of a felony, I was elated! This is definitely a step in the right direction!

Larimer County Felony Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor Definition in Colorado

The Larimer County, Colorado law definition of Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor – C.R.S. 18-6-701 – is:

Any person who induces, aids, or encourages a child to violate any federal or state law, municipal or county ordinance, or court order commits contributing to the delinquency of a minor. For the purposes of this section, the term “child” means any person under the age of eighteen years.

For the crime the way it is currently written, allowing a child to litter is treated the same as giving a child a gun or drugs – if you encouraged or allowed it, then you can get charged with the class 4 felony. Seems ridiculous, right?

Sentence for Felony Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor in Loveland and Estes Park

As stated above, Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor is a class 4 felony. This level felony is punishable by 2 to 6 years in the Colorado Department of Corrections and up to $500,000 in fines. This is a very harsh punishment, especially depending on the facts of the case.


If you or someone you love has been charged with felony Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor, 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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