Will I Face Prison Time with My Felony Criminal Conviction Sentence in Fort Collins?

Will you face prison time for a felony criminal conviction in Colorado? More in our blog.
Will you face prison time for a felony criminal conviction in Colorado? More in our blog.
Image Credit: Pixabay – AlexVan

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.

[pullquote align=”center” textalign=”center” width=”90%”]Have you been charged with a felony? Contact the experienced attorneys from the O’Malley Law Office to defend you today![/pullquote]

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.

If you or someone you love has been charged with a felony and may be facing prison time, be smart, exercise your right to remain silent, and contact the best criminal defense lawyers from the O’Malley Law Office at 970-658-0007 today. Together, we can protect your future.