Arson is charged in Fort Collins and Larimer County when someone purposely sets fire to another person’s property without their consent. A Colorado man is facing First Degree Arson charges after breaking into a Fort Collins church and setting the couch on fire. According to the report, police were called to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints after a man made statements that he was going to burn the church down. He had purchased the tools he needed to break into the church and set the couch on fire. The man was arrested outside of the church and is being held on a $5,000 bond for First Degree Arson, Second Degree Burglary, and Criminal Mischief, all felonies.
Larimer County First Degree Arson Lawyer: Definition of First Degree Arson in Boulder
The Larimer and Boulder County, Colorado law definition of First Degree Arson – C.R.S. 18-4-102 – is:
Now, the man didn’t technically set the building on fire, right? So was he overcharged because the building didn’t actually burn down? Well, since he set fire to something inside the building, it could have easily set the actual structure on fire – which is likely why they charged it that way. It would be hard to argue that he was just wanting to burn the couch and not the building since he set fire to something inside the structure. It would be a totally different story if he had pulled the couch outside to burn it, but that was not the case here.
Sentence for 1st Degree Arson in Fort Collins
As a class 3 felony in Fort Collins, Loveland, and Estes Park, 1st Degree Arson is punishable by 4 to 12 years in the Colorado Department of Corrections and up to $750,000 in fines. That would not include restitution, which would be what the church would ask for to repair and restore the damage that was done. The sprinklers went off when they sensed the heat, which lead to flooding damage in part of the church and likely means a hefty restitution will be required.
If you or someone you love has been charged with First Degree Arson, 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 for your free consultation. Together, we can protect your future.
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