Fort Collins Criminal Mischief Attorney
Man Starts Riot at Municipal Court

A man was sentenced to prison for his role in a riot at a municipal court that resulted in property damage.

Criminal Mischief is charged in Fort Collins and Larimer County when a person causes property damage to someone else’s property. A man was recently sentenced to prison for his part in a riot at a Colorado Municipal Court. According to the report, the man, along with others, launched fireworks at the police officers located at the building. The rioters also broke the building windows and threw fireworks inside. He was ultimately charged with Arson, Inciting a Riot, Engaging in a Riot and Criminal Mischief. The report states that there was more than $74,000 in property damage.

Larimer County Criminal Mischief Lawyer: Definition of Riot Criminal Mischief in Colorado

The Larimer County, Colorado law definition of Criminal Mischief – C.R.S. 18-4-501 – is:

(1) A person commits criminal mischief when he or she knowingly damages the real or personal property of one or more other persons, including property owned by the person jointly with another person or property owned by the person in which another person has a possessory or proprietary interest, in the course of a single criminal episode.

Obviously, breaking windows and throwing lit fireworks inside a building is causing damage to the property.

Sentence for Criminal Mischief in Loveland and Estes Park

In Fort Collins, Loveland, and Estes Park, Criminal Mischief can be charged as a petty offense all the way to a class 2 felony depending on the amount of damage caused:

Criminal mischief is:

(a) A petty offense when the aggregate damage to the real or personal property is less than three hundred dollars;

(b) A class 2 misdemeanor when the aggregate damage to the real or personal property is three hundred dollars or more but less than one thousand dollars;

(c)  A class 1 misdemeanor when the aggregate damage to the real or personal property is one thousand dollars or more but less than two thousand dollars;

(d) A class 6 felony when the aggregate damage to the real or personal property is two thousand dollars or more but less than five thousand dollars;

(e) A class 5 felony when the aggregate damage to the real or personal property is five thousand dollars or more but less than twenty thousand dollars;

(f) A class 4 felony when the aggregate damage to the real or personal property is twenty thousand dollars or more but less than one hundred thousand dollars;

(g) A class 3 felony when the aggregate damage to the real or personal property is one hundred thousand dollars or more but less than one million dollars; and

(h) A class 2 felony when the aggregate damage to the real or personal property is one million dollars or more.

Based on the fact that the man was ordered to pay $74,463.50 in restitution, he was likely charged with the class 4 felony Criminal Mischief charge from the riot.


If you or someone you love has been charged with Criminal Mischief, 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 Amine M’Siouri