A woman from another state allegedly woke up after sleeping off her drunkenness, and stabbed her boyfriend for starting to eat Thanksgiving dinner without her. She supposedly chased him around the dining room, eventually stabbing him in the chest and then throwing the knife at him, which hit him right below the eye. The boyfriend was hospitalized and the woman is facing multiple charges, including serious Assault.
Assault – Domestic Violence in Larimer County
If this had occurred in Larimer, Boulder or Grand County, Colorado law would stipulate the woman be charged with Assault – Domestic Violence. Because the victim was her boyfriend, the incident becomes a Domestic Violence offense. Colorado does not consider Domestic Violence a charge itself, but a sentence enhancer attaching to any other crime. The Assault charge would be aggravated by adding Domestic Violence.
Thanksgiving Domestic Violence in Fort Collins
Domestic Violence – C.R.S. 18-6-800.3 – is defined under Colorado law as when a person:
- Commits an act of violence or threatens violence directed against a person with whom the actor is or has been involved 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.
In this case, the woman allegedly committed an act of violence against her boyfriend, with whom she is in an intimate relationship. If this case had happened in Fort Collins, Loveland or Estes Park, this fact would require that Domestic Violence to be added to the Assault charge. The DV sentence enhancer would add certain stipulations to the sentence, like:
- Participating in and successfully completing at least 36 weeks of Domestic Violence Treatment
- Surrendering all firearms and ammunition
- Obeying the mandatory protection order preventing contact between the accused and the accuser
If you have been accused of Domestic Violence (CRS 18-6-801), be smart, exercise your right to remain silent, and call the experienced defense attorneys at the O’Malley Law Office at 970-658-0007, or submit the “Get Help Now” form. Together, we can protect your future.