One way Stalking is charged in Fort Collins and Larimer County when a person is accused of repeatedly following someone and causing them serious emotional distress. A former Johnstown police officer was charged with this crime after he was accused of following a co-worker and collecting data about her and her children. According to the report, the former officer pled to a misdemeanor crime, but was originally charged with a felony for Stalking. The officer allegedly stalks his co-worker over 19 months, which included following her in his police car, and using police databases to gather information about her location, her children, and her children’s activities. The officer ended up pleading to Harassment, which also includes a subsection regarding following a person.
Stalking Lawyer in Fort Collins: Definition of Stalking in Colorado
The Fort Collins, Larimer County, Colorado law definition of Stalking – C.R.S. 18-3-602 – is:
(a) Makes a credible threat to another person and, in connection with the threat, repeatedly follows, approaches, contacts, or places under surveillance that person, a member of that person’s immediate family, or someone with whom that person has or has had a continuing relationship; or
(b) Makes a credible threat to another person and, in connection with the threat, repeatedly makes any form of communication with that person, a member of that person’s immediate family, or someone with whom that person has or has had a continuing relationship, regardless of whether a conversation ensues; or
(c) Repeatedly follows, approaches, contacts, places under surveillance, or makes any form of communication with another person, a member of that person’s immediate family, or someone with whom that person has or has had a continuing relationship in a manner that would cause a reasonable person to suffer serious emotional distress and does cause that person, a member of that person’s immediate family, or someone with whom that person has or has had a continuing relationship to suffer serious emotional distress. For purposes of this paragraph (c), a victim need not show that he or she received professional treatment or counseling to show that he or she suffered serious emotional distress.
Because the article didn’t mention any threats, it’s likely the officer was originally charged under subsection (c).
Sentence for Someone Who Stalks Another / Stalking in Loveland and Estes Park
In Fort Collins, Loveland and Estes Park, Stalking is a felony crime. It is charged as a class 5 felony extraordinary risk crime, which means that it is subject to an extended sentencing range of 1 to 4 years in the Colorado Department of Corrections. However, if it is a second or subsequent Stalking charge and the new charge is within 7 years of the first conviction, it is a class 4 felony extraordinary risk crime. This level felony is punishable by 2 to 8 years in the Colorado Department of Corrections.