In Fort Collins and Larimer County, Hate Crimes – known as Bias-Motivated Crimes in Colorado – is charged when a person is accused of committing a crime against someone based on various identifying factors. Basically, any crime can become a hate crime if the language used attacks someone’s race, religion, sexual orientation or disability. Let’s take a closer look at how Bias-Motivated Crimes are charged in Colorado.
Larimer County Bias-Motivated Crimes Lawyer: What is the Definition of Bias-Motivated Crimes?
The Larimer County, Colorado law definition of Bias-Motivated Crimes – C.R.S 18-9-121 – is:
(a) Knowingly causes bodily injury to another person; or
(b) By words or conduct, knowingly places another person in fear of imminent lawless action directed at that person or that person’s property and such words or conduct are likely to produce bodily injury to that person or damage to that person’s property; or
(c) Knowingly causes damage to or destruction of the property of another person.
We commonly see across the news and social media, when a person is angry about something, they often use very derogatory words to express their anger. If the words attack one of the above listed identifying parts of a person, then it can be considered a Hate Crime. Bias-Motivated Crime is often charged in conjunction with another crime. For example, if someone made a racial slur while hitting another person, they could be charged with Bias-Motivated Crime for causing bodily injury and also Third Degree Assault.
Penalty for Bias-Motivated Crimes in Loveland
In Loveland and Fort Collins, Bias-Motivated Crimes is charged based on the subsection the person is cited under. For a charge under (b) or (c), then it is a class 1 misdemeanor. A charge under subsection (a) is a class 5 felony, unless there was more than one person involved in the Assault and then it is a class 4 felony.