If you have been charged with a crime, it is essential to know whether it has been designated a felony extraordinary risk crime at the Larimer County Courts. Under Colorado law, extraordinary risk crimes are those that not only harm an individual victim, but also create special risk to society. Because of this risk, extraordinary risk crimes carry more severe penalties than other felony crimes of the same class. If you have been charged with an extraordinary risk crime, it is imperative that you contact a top criminal defense lawyer to represent you in court – fast.
1. What are Felony Extraordinary Risk Crimes at the Larimer County Courts?
At the Larimer County Courts, extraordinary risk crimes are defined under C.R.S. 18-1.3-401 (10) (a). This subsection states that “certain crimes that are listed in subsection (10) (b) of this section present an extraordinary risk of harm to society.” In other words, these crimes don’t just harm an individual victim, but create risk to society as a whole. Due to “interest of public safety,” these crimes carry more severe penalties – i.e., longer sentences to the Colorado Department of Corrections / DOC.
2. Examples of Felony Extraordinary Risk Crimes in Fort Collins
Extraordinary risk crimes charged in Fort Collins include, but are not limited to, the following:
- All crimes of violence outlined in C.R.S. 18-1.3-406
- Assault in the Second Degree, C.R.S. 18-3-403 (1) (i), where the defendant used strangulation
- Child Abuse, C.R.S. 18-6-401
- Stalking, C.R.S. 18-3-602
- Aggravated Robbery, C.R.S. 18-4-302
- Unlawful Sale of a Controlled Substance, C.R.S. 18-18-405
- Some circumstances of Sexual Exploitation of a Child, C.R.S. 18-6-403 (5.5)
- Felony Invasion of Privacy for Sexual Gratification, C.R.S. 18-3-405.6
Conviction of one of these or another extraordinary risk crime will result in a longer sentence to the Colorado DOC. In some cases, they will also result in longer periods of mandatory parole after the defendant is released from prison.
3. How Do Felony Extraordinary Risk Crimes Affect Penalties in Loveland and Estes Park?
Penalties for a felony extraordinary risk crime are more severe than those for other felony offenses in Loveland and Estes Park. The maximum sentence to the Colorado Department of Corrections / DOC increases by several months or years for an extraordinary risk crime. In some cases, the mandatory parole period increases as well. See the table below for a comparison between the normal presumptive range for felony offenses versus that for extraordinary risk crimes at the Colorado DOC:
Felony Class |
Presumptive Range |
Extraordinary Risk Range |
| Class 6 felony / F6 | 1 year – 18 months | 1 – 2 years |
| Class 5 felony / F5 | 1 – 3 years | 1 – 4 years |
| Class 4 felony / F4 | 2 – 6 years | 2 – 8 years |
| Class 3 felony / F3 | 4 – 12 years | 4 – 16 years |
Depending on the offense, other factors may further increase the sentence to the Colorado Department of Corrections. Crimes of violence and sexual offenses are also subject to additional sentence enhancers. For those reasons, it is essential that you contact a top criminal defense lawyer, and fast. You need quality representation at the Larimer County Courts to mitigate the penalties you could face. Don’t wait to call us – the sooner you get in touch with an experienced lawyer, the closer you will be to living in freedom again.
Have you been charged with an extraordinary risk crime? First, exercise your right to remain silent. Then call 970-658-0007 to get in contact with a criminal defense lawyer with decades of experience to discuss your charges. 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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