In Fort Collins and Larimer County, Accessory to Crime is charged when a person is accused of harboring or concealing someone wanted by police. A woman was recently arrested for this crime after she lied to police about who was in her home. According to the report, law enforcement had reason to believe a man wanted for multiple crimes was currently at the woman’s home. When they arrived, the woman allowed the officers in her home but told them the man was not there. She did not let them search the home, so they obtained a warrant. When the search warrant was executed, the man was found under a bed. Not only did the arrest the wanted man, they also arrested the woman for attempting to conceal him from police.
Larimer County Accessory to Crime Lawyer: Definition of Accessory to a Crime in Colorado
The Larimer County, Colorado law definition of Accessory to Crime – C.R.S. 18-8-105 – is:
(2) “Render assistance” means to:
(a) Harbor or conceal the other; or
(a.5) Harbor or conceal the victim or a witness to the crime; or
(b) Warn such person of impending discovery or apprehension; except that this does not apply to a warning given in an effort to bring such person into compliance with the law; or
(c) Provide such person with money, transportation, weapon, disguise, or other thing to be used in avoiding discovery or apprehension; or
(d) By force, intimidation, or deception, obstruct anyone in the performance of any act which might aid in the discovery, detection, apprehension, prosecution, conviction, or punishment of such person; or
(e) Conceal, destroy, or alter any physical or testimonial evidence that might aid in the discovery, detection, apprehension, prosecution, conviction, or punishment of such person.
Likely, law enforcement would argue that the woman warned the man when police arrived and encouraged him to hide. Then, by lying and telling police that he was not there, it confirms that she was attempting to conceal him.
Sentence for Accessory to Crime in Loveland and Estes Park: Hiding a Wanted Man
In Fort Collins, Loveland, and Estes Park, Accessory to Crime is charged as follows:
- Being an accessory to crime is a class 4 felony if the offender knows that the person being assisted has committed, or has been convicted of, or is charged by pending information, indictment, or complaint with a crime, and if that crime is designated by this code as a class 1 or class 2 felony.
- Being an accessory to crime is a class 5 felony if the offender knows that the person being assisted is suspected of or wanted for a crime, and if that crime is designated by this code as a class 1 or class 2 felony.
- Being an accessory to crime is a class 5 felony if the offender knows that the person being assisted has committed, or has been convicted of, or is charged by pending information, indictment, or complaint with a crime, or is suspected of or wanted for a crime, and if that crime is designated by this code as a felony other than a class 1 or class 2 felony; except that being an accessory to a class 6 felony is a class 6 felony.
- Being an accessory to crime is a petty offense if the offender knows that the person being assisted has committed, or has been convicted of, or is charged by pending information, indictment, or complaint with a crime, or is suspected of or wanted for a crime, and if that crime is designated by this code as a misdemeanor of any class.
It’s interesting that the level of crime is directly related to the charges of the wanted man.
If you or someone you love has been charged with Accessory to Crime, 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 a free initial consultation. Together, we can protect your future.
Photo by Anna Tarazevich