Harassment can be charged for many reasons in Fort Collins and Larimer County. A woman was recently charged for Harassment after a year of sending threatening messages to a young girl with special needs. According to the report, the 2-year-old girl was born with a skin condition. The girl’s mother posted on social media about the condition and her child to raise awareness. The woman apparently didn’t like that as she began leaving threatening messages on the social media platforms as well as sending them in the mail to the family’s home. The messages went on for about a year before the woman was located and arrested. She was charged with Harassment, Stalking, and Hate Crimes and is currently in custody.
Larimer County Harassment Lawyer: Definition of Harassment in Colorado
The Larimer County, Colorado law definition of Harassment – C.R.S. 18-9-111 – is:
(a) Strikes, shoves, kicks, or otherwise touches a person or subjects him to physical contact; or
(b) In a public place directs obscene language or makes an obscene gesture to or at another person; or
(c) Follows a person in or about a public place; or
(d) Repealed.
(e) Directly or indirectly initiates communication with a person or directs language toward another person, anonymously or otherwise, by telephone, telephone network, data network, text message, instant message, computer, computer network, computer system, or other interactive electronic medium in a manner intended to harass or threaten bodily injury or property damage, or makes any comment, request, suggestion, or proposal by telephone, computer, computer network, computer system, or other interactive electronic medium that is obscene; or
(f) Makes a telephone call or causes a telephone to ring repeatedly, whether or not a conversation ensues, with no purpose of legitimate conversation; or
(g) Makes repeated communications at inconvenient hours that invade the privacy of another and interfere in the use and enjoyment of another’s home or private residence or other private property; or
(h) Repeatedly insults, taunts, challenges, or makes communications in offensively coarse language to, another in a manner likely to provoke a violent or disorderly response.
Based on the information provided in the article, if this had occurred in Colorado the woman would be charged under subsection (d). She communicated online – through social media – in a manner that was harassing and threatening.
Sentence for Harassment of Special Needs Child in Loveland and Estes Park
In Fort Collins, Loveland, and Estes Park, Harassment is a class 3 misdemeanor unless the person harasses another ‘with the intent to intimidate or harass another person because of that person’s actual or perceived race; color; religion; ancestry; national origin; physical or mental disability; or sexual orientation. Because the messages were intended to harass the girl because of her physical disability, the woman would be facing a class 1 misdemeanor charge, which is punishable by 6 to 18 months in the Larimer County Jail and up to $5,000 in fines.
If you or someone you love has been charged with Harassment, 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 consultation today. Together, we can protect your future.
Photo by Kaitlyn Baker on Unsplash