Forgery is charged in Fort Collins and Larimer County when a person alters or creates a certain document with the intent to defraud another. A local bank teller has been accused of Forgery, along with Theft, Identity Theft and various crimes against at-risk, after $27,000 was missing from accounts. The woman is reported to have admitted to making numerous withdrawals from customer accounts. Her method was to create debit cards and forge checks to access the money. She allegedly used the money to pay her rent and make other purchases, including funding a trip to Disney World.
Larimer County Forgery Attorney: Definition of Forgery and Second Degree Forgery in Colorado
There are two different charges related to Forgery in Colorado: Forgery and Second Degree Forgery. The Larimer County, Colorado law definition of Forgery – C.R.S. 18-5-102 – is:
(a) Part of an issue of money, stamps, securities, or other valuable instruments issued by a government or government agency; or
(b) Part of an issue of stock, bonds, or other instruments representing interests in or claims against a corporate or other organization or its property; or
(c) A deed, will, codicil, contract, assignment, commercial instrument, promissory note, check, or other instrument which does or may evidence, create, transfer, terminate, or otherwise affect a legal right, interest, obligation, or status; or
(d) A public record or an instrument filed or required by law to be filed or legally fileable in or with a public office or public servant; or
(e) A written instrument officially issued or created by a public office, public servant, or government agency; or
(f) Part of an issue of tokens, transfers, certificates, or other articles manufactured and designed for use in transportation fees upon public conveyances, or as symbols of value usable in place of money for the purchase of property or services available to the public for compensation; or
(g) Part of an issue of lottery tickets or shares designed for use in the lottery held pursuant to article 40 of title 44; or
(h) A document-making implement that may be used or is used in the production of a false identification document or in the production of another document-making implement to produce false identification documents.
The Colorado law definition of Second Degree Forgery – C.R.S. 18-5-104 – is:
Basically, the Forgery statute outlines all the different items that can be forged and Second Degree Forgery is a broad way of getting charges filed on something that isn’t included in the Forgery statute list. Forgery is a class 5 felony, whereas Second Degree Forgery is a class 1 misdemeanor.