Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor is charged in Fort Collins and Larimer County when an adult encourages or helps someone under the age of 18 to commit a crime. A woman was recently arrested for this after a 6-year-old was found drinking alcohol. According to the report, the woman had been contacted at a gas station for a welfare check and police saw the boy with an open Smirnoff. The woman claimed the boy had taken it from the car, as she had just purchased them and the boy claimed he used his mouth to open it. Police believed her and let her go, but later went to the home to give her a trespass notice related to the gas station issue. When they arrived, the boy was on his scooter holding an open Smirnoff. The boy told the officers that the woman (not his mother) had been giving him alcohol regularly to help him sleep. She was charged with Child Abuse and Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor.
Larimer County Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor Attorney: Definition of Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor in Colorado
The Larimer County, Colorado law definition of Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor – C.R.S. 18-6-701 – is:
(b) Any person who induces, aids, or encourages a child to violate any municipal or county ordinance, court order, or state or federal law that is not a felony victims rights act crime as defined in section 24-4.1-302 (1) commits second degree contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
(c) As used in this section, the term “child” means any person under the age of eighteen years.
Based on the information provided, the woman would likely be facing Second Degree Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor, as underaged drinking of a Smirnoff is not a felony VRA crime.
Sentence for Smirnoff Second Degree Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor in Loveland and Estes Park
In Fort Collins, Loveland and Estes Park, Contributing to the Delinquency is charged as follows:
- First degree contributing to the delinquency of a minor is a class 4 felony.
- Second degree contributing to the delinquency of a minor is a class 1 misdemeanor.
The woman would be facing the class 1 misdemeanor crime, which is punishable by up to 364 days in the Larimer County Jail and up to $750 in fines.
If you or someone you love has been charged with Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor, 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 Gaurav Verma