Domestic Violence Sentence Enhancer in Fort Collins
Most of the time when you think about Domestic Violence, you picture a battered woman beaten by her husband or a girlfriend attacking her boyfriend during an argument. We think that some form of physical violence is involved, however, under Colorado law, nothing physical is necessary to be considered Domestic Violence. Actually, Domestic Violence isn’t even a crime you can be charged with alone in Larimer, Grand, or Boulder County. Instead, it is a sentence enhancer attaching to any other crime like Assault. Its purpose is to add harsher punishments to the underlying crime. For example, anyone convicted of a DV offense must complete Domestic Violence treatment as a sentence requirement along with whatever punishments are given for the Assault or Harassment conviction.
Other Domestic Violence Issues
Fort Collins Domestic Violence LawyerWhat is Domestic Violence?
While Domestic Violence is not its own crime, it is still defined in Colorado law under C.R.S. 18-6-800.3. It is added to any other crime when a person:
- Commits an act of violence or threatens violence against the person with whom they are or were in an intimate relationship
- Commits any other crime involving coercion, control, punishment, intimidation, or revenge against a person with whom the actor is or has been involved in an intimate relationship.
The law is very vague and just simple allegations will get the Domestic Violence sentence enhancer added in Fort Collins, Loveland, and Estes Park. Imagine you were texting your ex-girlfriend trying to work things out. If you are guilty of Harassment, all she would have to claim is that you were trying to coerce her and you could get charged with Harassment – Domestic Violence.*
Why You Need a Larimer County DV Lawyer for Your Domestic Violence Case
The Domestic Violence sentence enhancer can create serious problems for you and your future. If you have a DV offense on your record, you are no longer able to possess a firearm. You may not be able to see your kids. You could even lose your job or housing. With so much at stake, you need a trial attorney who has experience with Domestic Violence cases. The knowledgeable lawyers at the O’Malley Law Office have handled hundreds of these types of cases and know how to get dismissals or not-guilty verdicts at trial.