One reason that False Reporting is charged in Fort Collins and Larimer County is when a person is accused of reporting a crime they know did not occur. That seems to be the case with a ‘social media influencer’ who was so desperate to go viral, she made up a crime and detailed it on social media. According to the report, the ‘influencer,’ a mother to small children, posted a video online telling a story that a couple attempted to abduct her children in the parking lot of a craft store. The police say that she made a report about ‘suspicious activity’ but then went on to make the Instagram video, including many more details that were not given to police. The video went viral and she was even interviewed by a local news station – telling the same story as she did on the video and identifying the couple. Police looked into these claims and used security footage to identify the couple. They cooperated with the investigation and the woman’s story quickly fell apart. The ‘influencer’ was charged with two counts of False Reporting and after taking the case to trial, was found guilty on one count by a jury.
Larimer County False Reporting Lawyer: Definition of False Reporting to Authorities in Colorado
The Larimer County, Colorado law definition of False Reporting to Authorities – C.R.S. 18-8-111 – is:
(I) He or she knowingly:
(A) Causes by any means, including but not limited to activation, a false alarm of fire or other emergency or a false emergency exit alarm to sound or to be transmitted to or within an official or volunteer fire department, ambulance service, law enforcement agency, or any other government agency which deals with emergencies involving danger to life or property; or
(B) Prevents by any means, including but not limited to deactivation, a legitimate fire alarm, emergency exit alarm, or other emergency alarm from sounding or from being transmitted to or within an official or volunteer fire department, ambulance service, law enforcement agency, or any other government agency that deals with emergencies involving danger to life or property; or
(II) He or she makes a report or knowingly causes the transmission of a report to law enforcement authorities of a crime or other incident within their official concern when he or she knows that it did not occur; or
(III) He or she makes a report or knowingly causes the transmission of a report to law enforcement authorities pretending to furnish information relating to an offense or other incident within their official concern when he or she knows that he or she has no such information or knows that the information is false
If this had occurred in Colorado, based on the information provided in the article, the ‘influencer’ would have likely been charged under subsection (B)(II).
Sentence for False Reporting to Authorities by ‘Influencer’ in Loveland and Estes Park
In Fort Collins, Loveland, and Estes Park, False Reporting to Authorities is a class 2 misdemeanor. This level misdemeanor is punishable by up to 120 days in the Larimer County Jail and up to $750 in fines.
If you or someone you love has been charged with False Reporting, 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 George Milton