Weld County Court Assault - Key Assault Definitions by Top Greeley Defense Lawyers
Bodily Injury, Deadly Weapons, and Other Terms of Assault Charges
Assault, C.R.S. 18-3-202+, is divided into 3 different degrees at the Weld County Court in Greeley, with several terms and definitions used to distinguish between each charge. The differences between Assault in the First Degree, C.R.S. 18-3-202; Assault in the Second Degree, C.R.S. 18-3-203; and Assault in the Third Degree, C.R.S. 18-3-204 depend on these definitions. These include bodily injury vs. Serious Bodily Injury, Deadly Weapon, Crimes of Violence, and many more. Below, our top Greeley and Weld County criminal defense lawyers define these terms as they are used in the Weld County Court.
How is “Bodily Injury” Defined in Greeley?
Minor Physical Pain and Other Non-Serious Injuries
“Bodily injury” is an essential term underlying many Colorado crimes. Whether a person is charged with Assault in the Third Degree, Second Degree Assault, or Assault in the First Degree in Greeley depends on whether the defendant caused bodily injury or serious bodily injury to the victim. Bodily injury is defined in C.R.S. 18-1-901(3)(c) as “physical pain, illness, or any impairment of physical or mental condition.” In other words, bodily injury includes causing minor pain or illness – even if the defendant never caused so much as a bruise or mark.
Weld County Definition of Serious Bodily Injury
Broken Bones, Severe Burns, and other Types of Injury
In Weld County, the definition of serious bodily injury, found in C.R.S. 18-1-901(3)(p), is as follows:
If a person causes serious bodily injury to another, they will be charged with Assault in the Second Degree or First Degree Assault.
Greeley Deadly Weapon Definition
Guns, Knives, and Other Deadly Weapons
In Greeley, a deadly weapon is defined under C.R.S. 18-1-901 as:
(I) A firearm, whether loaded or unloaded; or (II) A knife, bludgeon, or any other weapon, device, instrument, material, or substance, whether animate or inanimate, that, in the manner it is used or intended to be used, is capable of producing death or serious bodily injury.
By this definition, any object that can seriously injure or kill another person can be a deadly weapon. Examples include bottles, bats, frying pans, and fists.