When a person is convicted of or pleads guilty to a crime, a judge must decide an appropriate punishment. Judges can sentence a person to probation, community corrections, jail or prison time depending on the circumstances. Sometimes with certain crimes and situations, the law requires a period of incarceration. Let’s take a closer look at the prison incarceration sentencing ranges.
Felony Crimes: Prison Sentences in Larimer County
The only way a judge can sentence a person to a Colorado Department of Corrections (DOC) prison is if the person is convicted of a felony. The sentence ranges for a felony conviction in Larimer, Boulder, and Grand County are:
| Felony Level | Prison Sentence Range | Crime Example |
| Class 1 Felony | Life imprisonment or death | 1st Degree Murder |
| Class 2 Felony | 8 to 24 years in DOC | 2nd Degree Kidnapping |
| Class 3 Felony | 4 to 12 years in DOC | Theft ($100,000 to $999,999) |
| Class 3 Extraordinary Risk Felony | 4 to 16 years in DOC | Aggravated Robbery |
| Class 4 Felony | 2 to 6 years in DOC | Identity Theft |
| Class 4 Extraordinary Risk Felony | 2 to 8 years in DOC | Child Abuse |
| Class 5 Felony | 1 to 3 years in DOC | First Degree Criminal Trespass |
| Class 5 Extraordinary Risk Felony | 1 to 4 years in DOC | Stalking |
| Class 6 Felony | 12 to 18 months in DOC | Felony Failure to Register as a Sex Offender |
| Class 6 Extraordinary Risk Felony | 1 to 2 years in DOC | Invasion of Privacy for Sexual Gratification (victim under 15) |
Certain crimes fall under the ‘extraordinary risk’ category. These are crimes the government has decided “present an extraordinary risk of harm to society.” Any crime that falls under this designation is open to an increased maximum sentence as shown in the table above. Some more serious felony crimes have mandatory prison which a judge must impose. In some cases, a judge can impose Larimer County Jail time as a condition of probation. This means that you would not have to serve time in prions, but would have local jail time before beginning your Fort Collins Probation sentence.
Not all Crimes are Charged and Sentenced the Same in Fort Collins
It is also important to note, Colorado law has written different circumstances and elements into many of it’s laws, which can change the level of felony that is charged. For example, in referring to the table above, Child Abuse is listed as a class 4 felony extraordinary risk crime. However, Child Abuse can be charged as a class 2, class 3, class 4, class 5 or even class 6 felony depending on the situation. If the Child Abuse is charged as a class 3 felony and resulted in serious bodily injury, the judge is required to sentence the convicted party to an extended sentence range. Instead of facing the 4 to 16 years as an extraordinary risk crime, the new range would be 10 to 32 years.
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The Law is Complicated and Confusing on Felony Sentenced: We Can Help!
With so many variables, the law can be very confusing. If you have been accused of committing a felony in Fort Collins, Loveland or Estes Park, don’t leave your future to chance. An experienced criminal defense attorney can help guide you through the court process. We pride ourselves on being upfront and honest with our clients about their situations. Schedule a free consultation to sit down with a knowledgeable criminal defense lawyer, who can discuss the specifics of your charges and help you get a better understanding of the sentence you are facing.