A 61-year-old Aurora man was convicted of felony Criminal Mischief and three counts of Reckless Endangerment after a road rage incident. But it is not the type of road rage incident you typically hear about. According to the news report, the man was in his front yard doing lawn work when a 20-year-old driver sped by in his Jeep. The man yelled at the driver, who in turn came back around to confront the man. He walked out into the street and the driver had to swerve to avoid hitting him. The man threw the rake at the Jeep, which shattered the windshield and caused the driver to lose control. The Jeep hit a parked car and the Jeep rolled. A teenage passenger suffered injuries and was paralyzed in the crash. The rake thrower was charged with and convicted of Criminal Mischief and Reckless Endangerment.
Larimer County Criminal Mischief Lawyer: What is the Definition of Felony Criminal Mischief?
In Larimer, Boulder, and Grand County, Criminal Mischief – C.R.S. 18-4-501 – is defined as:
Because the man’s actions broke the windshield, causing the crash and further damage to the Jeep, he will be sentenced for committing class 5 felony Criminal Mischief. In Colorado, Criminal Mischief can be charged as a misdemeanor or felony based on the amount of damage caused. A class 5 felony Criminal Mischief conviction means the aggregate damage caused was between $5,000 and $20,000.
Fort Collins Reckless Endangerment Lawyer: What is the Definition of Reckless Endangerment?
The Colorado law definition of Reckless Endangerment in Fort Collins, Loveland, and Estes Park – C.R.S. 18-3-208 – is:
While he may not have intended for the outcome that occurred, by throwing the rake at a moving vehicle, the jury found him to have engaged in conduct that created the risk of serious bodily injury.