What is Obstruction of a Telephone Service in Fort Collins?
Colorado law defines C.R.S. 18-9-306.5 – Obstruction of Telephone or Telegraph Service – as:
As a class 1 misdemeanor in Fort Collins, Loveland, and Estes Park, this crime is punishable with 6 to 18 months in the Larimer County Jail and up to $5,000 in fines. Police tend to overcharge this crime. Something as simple as taking the phone out of friend’s hand when she is trying to make a call can be seen as Obstruction of Telephone Service. This crime commonly get charged during acts of Domestic Violence– when emotions and tensions are rising. For example, when a husband and wife are arguing and the wife threatens to call the police, if the husband takes the phone out of the wife’s hand while the call to 911 is connecting, the husband could be charged with Domestic Violence Obstructing a Telephone Service.
[pullquote align=”center” textalign=”center” width=”90%”]The experienced attorneys from the O’Malley Law Office will examine every detail of your case and formulate the best defense to protect you.[/pullquote]Why You Need a Lawyer for Your Obstruction of Telephone Service Charges
When a person is charged with this crime, the District Attorney must prove the defendant knowingly prevented, obstructed, or delayed a call. If in the husband and wife scenario above, the husband took the phone to try and get his wife to focus on the conversation instead of texting, then he did not knowingly prevent her from making a call. Even though she was trying to call 911, if he did not know she was attempting to reach emergency services, his actions do not meet the criteria of the crime. The experienced attorneys from the O’Malley Law Office will examine every detail of your case and formulate the best defense to protect you.