Witness and Victim Crimes in Fort Collins

Victims and witnesses can be key to a prosecution or defense’s case in Larimer, Grand, and Boulder County. Because of this, the law has put statutes in place, which allow both the prosecution and defense to have access to a witness or victim – free from any manipulation from the other side. Bribing a Witness, Witness or Victim Intimidation, and Retaliation Against a Witness all aim to ensure the fair administration of justice for everyone including the victim, witnesses, prosecution and defendant.

What are the Common Charges for Witness and Victim Crimes in Fort Collins?

• Bribery of a Witness or Victim – C.R.S. 18-8-703 – is charged when an offer to a victim or witness is made, providing that in exchange for any benefit (i.e. money or property) the victim or witness would provide false testimony, withhold testimony, avoid being summonsed or subpoenaed, or not show up to court.

More than one of these crimes is often charged for the same act.

• Witness or Victim Intimidation – C.R.S. 18-8-704 – is charged when a threat or act of harm is targeted toward a victim or witness or their family, in order to get the victim or witness to provide false testimony, withhold testimony, avoid being summonsed or subpoenaed, or not show up in court. If a deadly weapon is used during this crime, the charge would be worsened to Aggravated Intimidation of a Witness or Victim – C.R.S. 18-8-705 – in Fort Collins, Larimer, or Estes Park.
• Retaliation Against a Witness or Victim – C.R.S. 18-8-706 – is the witness or victim crime involving a threat, act of harassment, or act of harm or injury against the person or property of the person who has testified. Revenge tends to be the motivation for this crime, as this is only charged when the act is committed after the victim or witness has testified in court.

What are the Sentences for Witness and Victim Crimes in Larimer County?

Because the law sees Victim and Witness crimes as impeding the fairness of the justice the system we have set up to have, these crimes are charged as either a class 3 or class 4 felony, punishable with serving time in the Colorado Department of Corrections (DOC). Each crime is charged as follows:

Bribing or Bribery of a Victim or Witness

• class 4 felony

Witness or Victim Intimidation

• class 4 felony

Aggravated Intimidation of a Witness or Victim

• class 3 felony

Retaliation Against a Witness or Victim

• class 3 felony

In our experience, more than one of these crimes is often charged for the same act. For example, if a defendant tries to bribe a witness to not testify and when the witness refuses, the defendant threatens them, both Attempt to Bribe a Witness and Witness Intimidation would be charged.

If you have been contacted by police concerning one of these witness or victim intimidation, retaliation, or bribery crimes, be smart, exercise your right to remain silent, and call the experienced criminal defense attorneys at the O’Malley Law Office, P.C., at 970-658-0007, today. Together, we can protect your future.