In Fort Collins, Loveland, and Estes Park, Domestic Violence is not a separate crime, but a sentence enhancer added to crimes like Harassment and False Imprisonment. A Denver police officer was once arrested for Harassment as an act of Domestic Violence for sending text messages that “alarmed and annoyed’ the woman. I guess freedom of speech is not a protected constitutional right anymore? While he was not currently in a relationship with her, because they had previously been in an intimate relationship, the domestic violence enhancer still applied.
Larimer County Harassment Attorney: What is Harassment as an Act of Domestic Violence?
The Larimer, Boulder, and Grand County, Colorado law definition of Harassment – C.R.S. 18-9-111(1)(e) – is:
(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;
This statute is incredibly vague, in that all a person has to do is claim that they felt harassed by text messages or phone calls and this class 3 misdemeanor will be charged.
False Imprisonment Attorney in Fort Collins and Loveland
Another easy to charge crime when it comes to Domestic Violence cases is False Imprisonment. The Colorado law definition of False Imprisonment – C.R.S. 18-3-303 – is:
Again, the definition of this crime is vague – simply blocking the doorway during an argument with your girlfriend or boyfriend can result in these charges. With the DV sentence enhancer, treatment is a required part of any sentence on top of the 3 to 12 months in the Larimer County Jail for the class 2 misdemeanor charge.
If you or a loved one has been charged with False Imprisonment or Harassment, be smart, exercise your right to remain silent, and contact the best Domestic Violence defense attorneys from the O’Malley Law Office at 970-658-0007 today. Together, we can protect your future.
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