In Greeley, you can be charged with Stalking if you present a credible threat and have a pattern of behavior toward another person. Stalking is a serious crime that carries severe penalties upon conviction. In Colorado Springs, a man was recently charged with Stalking after he had been caught invading the peace and privacy of a teenager multiples times in six weeks. He had allegedly been looking through the window of a 17-year-old. The attorneys at the O’Malley Law Office have over 30 years of defending criminal cases including Stalking charges. Below our attorneys will discuss the facts about a Stalking charge you need to know.
- What is the Definition of Stalking, C.R.S. 18-3-602, in Weld County?
- Why Is Stalking Also Referred to as “Vonnie’s Law” in Greeley, Colorado?
- What are the Penalties and Sentence to Stalking in Weld County?
- Why Hire an Experienced Defense Attorney and Defenses for Stalking Charges in Greeley, Colorado?
Let’s look at this list of four important items to know:
#1. What is the Definition of Stalking, C.R.S. 18-3-602, in Weld County?
The definition of Stalking in Weld County, C.R.S. 18-3-602, is:
(a) Makes a credible threat to another person and, in connection with the threat, repeatedly follows, approaches, contacts, or places under surveillance that person, a member of that person’s immediate family, or someone with whom that person has or has had a continuing relationship; or
(b) Makes a credible threat to another person and, in connection with the threat, repeatedly makes any form of communication with that person, a member of that person’s immediate family, or someone with whom that person has or has had a continuing relationship, regardless of whether a conversation ensues; or
(c) Repeatedly follows, approaches, contacts, places under surveillance, or makes any form of communication with another person, a member of that person’s immediate family, or someone with whom that person has or has had a continuing relationship in a manner that would cause a reasonable person to suffer serious emotional distress and does cause that person, a member of that person’s immediate family, or someone with whom that person has or has had a continuing relationship to suffer serious emotional distress. For purposes of this paragraph (c), a victim need not show that he or she received professional treatment or counseling to show that he or she suffered serious emotional distress.
With a Stalking charge two things are needed: a credible threat and repeated behavior that reasonably causes serious distress or causes a person to fear for their safety. If it can be proven in the above story, that the man was a credible threat that repeatedly placed the teenager in fear, then he could be convicted of Stalking.
#2. Why Is Stalking Also Referred to as “Vonnie’s Law” in Greeley, Colorado?
It is important to note that Stalking is also called “Vonnie’s Law” in Colorado. C.R.S. 18-3-602, C.R.S., is known as “Vonnie’s Law” in memory of Vonnie Flores, a Leadville teacher who was stalked by her neighbor and then ultimately killed by him. A Representative introduced a house bill in memory of Ms. Flores that later became the statue we use today.
#3. What are the Penalties and Sentence to Stalking in Weld County?
In Weld County, Stalking is a class 5 felony. The penalties for a class 5 felony are 1-4 years in the Colorado Department of Corrections, and/or a fine of $1,000-$100,000 with a mandatory 2-year parole. It is also an Extraordinary Risk Crime which means the punishments and penalties are more severe. If you want to know more about an Extraordinary Risk Crime, go here and click. A 2nd or subsequent stalking offense is a class 4 felony, with penalties 2-8 years in prison, and/or a fine of $2,000-$500,000 with a mandatory 3-year parole.
#4. Why Hire an Experienced Defense Attorney and Defenses for Stalking Charges in Greeley, Colorado?
Are you facing a Stalking charge in Greeley? A skilled Greeley criminal defense attorney can help you get the best outcome in your case. Aggressive attorneys will work with you to navigate the Weld County courts. District Attorneys take Stalking charges very seriously, so you need an attorney who can fight for you. Some common defenses to Stalking are:
- There was no threat to anyone
- The threat was too elaborate to take seriously
- The defendant only contacted the victim once
- The defendant was not a part of the threat
- The contact was welcome
If you or someone you love has been accused of a Stalking charge in Greeley, or Weld County, be smart, exercise your right to remain silent, and contact the best criminal defense attorneys from the O’Malley Law Office at 970-616-6009 to schedule a free consultation. Together, we can protect your future.
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