In Greeley, anytime you’re driving and a collision occurs where the victim is seriously injured, the driver will face allegations of Vehicular Assault. When alcohol is added into the mix, the consequences can steepen. A man was recently arrested for Vehicular Assault, reckless endangerment and a variety of other crimes. If he had been convicted of everything, he was looking at between 15 and 45 years in prison. However, video evidence came out that revealed the officers who made the claim, lied. Initially, the officers claimed that the man floored his car in reverse, and almost hit one of them. The video shows the man parallel parking, then the undercover police vehicle pulling up next to him with their lights on. The officers stepped out, and the man drove right on by them. It seems inaccurate to say the man tried to hit them with his car, and more likely that the cop lied about the incident. It is important to remember that cops are human, and humans lie, therefore, cops lie too.
Colorado Law on Vehicular Assault, C.R.S. 18-3-205,
in Weld County and Morgan County?
In Morgan County and Weld County, Vehicular Assault, C.R.S. 18-3-205, is defined as:
(b) A person operating or driving a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or one or more drugs, or a combination of both alcohol and one or more drugs, and this conduct is the proximate cause of a serious bodily injury to another.
Basically, anytime you’re operating a vehicle in Weld County, and a collision occurs, if someone is seriously injured as a result, you will likely be charged with Vehicular Assault. Since the officers claimed that the man barely missed hitting them, he was accused of attempted Vehicular Assault.
Sentence for Vehicular Assault in Brighton, Fort Lupton, and Severance
In Brighton, Fort Lupton, and Severance, when you’re convicted of Vehicular Assault, you face a felony level sentence. Depending on the facts of the case, you could be convicted of a class 5 felony or a class 4 felony. If you were driving recklessly and seriously injured someone, you could be convicted of the class 5 felony. However, if you were driving under the influence, or driving drunk, then you face a class 4 felony. This act is elevated in severity due to it already being illegal to drink and drive, but now someone has suffered injuries from it as well.
A class 5 felony consists of:
- Possibility of probation
- Potentially 1 to 3 years in the Colorado Department of Corrections
- A fine between $1,000 and $100,000
- 2 years of mandatory parole
A class 4 felony consists of:
- Possibility of probation
- Potentially 2 to 6 years in the Colorado Department of Corrections
- A fine between $2,000 and $500,000
- 3 years of mandatory parole
Falsely Accused of Vehicular Assault in Windsor, Firestone, and Eaton?
Those are steep consequences to fulfill when you’ve been falsely accused of Vehicular Assault in Windsor, Firestone, and Eaton. Obviously, it is not impossible to face false accusations for Vehicular Assault, especially when those accusations come from cops with a vendetta against you. This man was lucky though, that there was video evidence to protect him. Not everyone falsely accused has that luxury. If you’re ever falsely accused of a crime, never be passive about it. The DA is working to prove that you’re guilty, just as your criminal defense lawyer is trying to prove that there is no way you could have done it. By not being active throughout your case, it could hurt you. That is why we always recommend that you hire an experienced criminal defense lawyer, even when you’re being falsely accused. False accusations are serious, and should be treated as such.
Accused of Vehicular Assault in Greeley or Weld County?
If you’re being falsely accused of Vehicular Assault in Greeley or Weld County, call the O’Malley Law Office for help today.
Always remember, the most important thing when you’re being accused of a crime is to exercise your right to remain silent and to get in contact with an experienced criminal defense attorney.
Call 970-616-6009 or fill out the Get Help Now form to schedule a free consultation with an experienced criminal defense lawyer in the Greeley and Weld County area.
Together, we can protect your future.
Photo by Evgeny Tchebotarev on Unsplash