You would think that putting someone in handcuffs and into the Fort Collins police or Larimer County Sheriff vehicle, the hard part would be over. But, today’s blog proves that’s not true. According to the news report, the Larimer County Sheriff deputies had arrested a gentleman on an outstanding warrant for a felony drug charge. He was handcuffed and put into the vehicle with no incident. The deputies then went to arrest a woman on an outstanding warrant and when they returned to the vehicle, the man was gone. He had escaped from the car, still in his handcuffs. Many law enforcement agents became involved, including the Loveland Police Department, but it was to no avail. To date, the man is still at large. If he is ever caught, he will not only have to face his felony drug charges, but also a new Escape charge.
Larimer County Escape Attorney: What is the Definition of Escape?
The Colorado law definition of Escape – C.R.S. 18-8-208 – is:
(2) A person commits a class 3 felony if, while being in custody or confinement following conviction of a felony other than a class 1 or class 2 felony, he knowingly escapes from said custody or confinement.
(3) A person commits a class 4 felony if, while being in custody or confinement and held for or charged with but not convicted of a felony, he knowingly escapes from said custody or confinement.
(4) A person commits a class 3 misdemeanor if, while being in custody or confinement following conviction of a misdemeanor or petty offense or a violation of a municipal ordinance, he or she knowingly escapes from said place of custody or confinement.
(4.5) A person commits a class 3 misdemeanor if he or she has been committed to the division of youth corrections in the department of human services for a delinquent act, is over eighteen years of age, and escapes from a staff secure facility as defined in section 19-1-103 (101.5), C.R.S., other than a state-operated locked facility.
(5) A person commits a class 1 petty offense if, while being in custody or confinement and held for or charged with but not convicted of a misdemeanor or petty offense or violation of a municipal ordinance, he or she knowingly escapes from said custody or confinement.
Based on the definition above, the man will most likely be charged with the class 4 felony in Larimer County Court. His situation most likely matches up with part 3. He was picked up on a warrant for a felony drug charge, but had not yet been convicted of anything. Of course, the deputies who lost their prisoner will suffer the penalty of extreme embarrassment.
Fort Collins Escape Lawyer: What is the Sentence for a Felony Escape Conviction?
If the man from the story above is charged and convicted of the class 4 felony Escape, he could be sentenced to prison. In Fort Collins, Loveland, and Estes Park, a class 4 felony is punishable by 2 to 6 years in the Colorado Department of Corrections. After a blatant escape, like the one above, I would not be surprised if a Larimer, Boulder, or Grand County district attorney pushed for a prison sentence to vindicate their deputies.