Felony Theft in Fort Collins | A Squatter Makes Himself a Profit

Learn how Felony Theft is charged in Fort Collins and across Colorado.
Learn how Felony Theft is charged in Fort Collins and across Colorado.
Image Credit: Pixabay – ClkerFreeVectorImages

Imagine you just walked into your home and a man enters behind you to tell you he is there to pick-up the microwave. Many different scenarios would run through your mind, starting with the thought you are being. What really happened, though, never would have crossed my mind. Apparently, the man really was there to get the microwave, which he found advertised on Craigslist. When the homeowner looked around, he realized most of his appliances were missing, including: a washer, dryer, refrigerator, stove, mattress, and television. According to the news report, a squatter had found the home empty of its residents and decided to make some money selling its furnishings. While he is still at large, the squatter is wanted by law enforcement for Theft.

What is Theft in Larimer County?

The Colorado law definition of Theft – C.R.S. 18-4-401 – is:

A person commits theft when he or she knowingly obtains, retains, or exercises control over anything of value of another without authorization or by threat or deception; or receives, loans money by pawn or pledge on, or disposes of anything of value or belonging to another that he or she knows or believes to have been stolen, and:

  1. Intends to deprive the other person permanently of the use or benefit of the thing of value;
  2. Knowingly uses, conceals, or abandons the thing of value in such manner as to deprive the other person permanently of its use or benefit;
  3. Uses, conceals, or abandons the thing of value intending that such use, concealment, or abandonment will deprive the other person permanently of its use or benefit;
  4. Demands any consideration to which he or she is not legally entitled as a condition of restoring the thing of value to the other person; or
  5. Knowingly retains the thing of value more than seventy-two hours after the agreed-upon time of return in any lease or hire agreement.

Based on the story above, the man would be charged with Theft because he sold the appliance. He took something of value from another, with the intention of never giving it back. In Larimer, Boulder, and Grand County, Theft can be charged as petty offense, misdemeanor, or felony depending on the value of the items taken. The charts below outline the penalty level based on the item value:

[pullquote align=”center” textalign=”center” width=”95%”]Have you been charged with Theft? Contact the experienced attorneys from the O’Malley Law Office to defend you today![/pullquote]

Petty and Misdemeanor Theft Offenses in Fort Collins:

 

Class 1 Petty Theft Offense Class 3 Theft Misdemeanor Class 2 Theft Misdemeanor Class 1 Theft Misdemeanor
Item Price Range Less than $50 $50 to $299 $300 to $749 $750 to $1,999
Maximum Penalty *$500 fine

*6 months jail

*$750 fine

*6 months jail

*$1,000 fine

*12 months jail

*$5,000

*18 months jail

 

Felony Theft Offenses:

 

Class 6 Felony Theft Class 5 Felony Theft Class 4 Felony Theft Class 3 Felony Theft Class 2 Felony Theft
Item Price Range $2,000 to $4,999 $5,000 to $19,999 $20,000 to $99,999 $100,000 to $999,999 $1,000,000 or more
Maximum Penalty *$100,000 fine

*18 months prison

*$100,000 fine

*3 years prison

*$500,000 fine

*6 years prison

$750,000 fine

*12 years prison

*$1,000,000 fine

*24 years prison

 

The man allegedly stole an estimated $5,000 worth of appliances and home furnishings. If the District Attorney can prove this to a jury, the man would face a class 5 felony Theft charge. This level felony is punishable by 1 to 3 years in the Colorado Department of Corrections and up to $100,000 in fines. An experienced criminal defense attorney would be able to argue for a probation sentence, especially with a first time offender in Fort Collins, Loveland, or Estes Park.

If you or someone you love has been charged with misdemeanor or felony Theft, be smart, exercise your right to remain silent, and contact the best criminal defense lawyers from the O’Malley Law Office at 970-658-0007 today. Together, we can protect your future.