Fort Collins Defense Attorney
Criminal Mischief and Menacing in the Time of Quarantine

A man reported a group of armed individuals came to his house, cut down his tree, and put it across his driveway to keep him in quarantine. Read more about this story here.

During a time when people are worried about their health and safety because of the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s not unheard of for some to take extreme measures to make their point. Take, for instance, a group of armed vigilantes who decided to take quarantining matters into their own hands. According to the report, a man reported that there were a group of people with guns at his home. The group had cut down a tree and laid it across his driveway, preventing him from leaving. When he went outside, he was yelled at to stay indoors and quarantine. He notified authorities, but by the time they arrived, the group had left. If ever located, they could be facing charges for Criminal Mischief and Menacing.

Larimer County Criminal Mischief Lawyer: Definition of Criminal Mischief to Keep Someone in Quarantine

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

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.

Because the group cut down a tree on the man’s property without permission, they could be charged with this property damage crime.

Menacing in Fort Collins, Loveland, and Estes Park

In Fort Collins, Loveland, and Estes Park, Menacing – C.R.S. 18-3-206 – is defined by Colorado law as:

A person commits the crime of menacing if, by any threat or physical action, he or she knowingly places or attempts to place another person in fear of imminent serious bodily injury. Menacing is a class 3 misdemeanor, but, it is a class 5 felony if committed:

(a) By the use of a deadly weapon or any article used or fashioned in a manner to cause a person to reasonably believe that the article is a deadly weapon; or

(b) By the person representing verbally or otherwise that he or she is armed with a deadly weapon.

Based on the fact that the group was armed, anyone who had a gun at the man’s house while trying to keep him inside would be charged with the class 5 felony Menacing.


If you or someone you love has been charged with Criminal Mischief or Menacing, 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 your free initial consultation today. Together, we can protect your future.

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