In Weld County, False Reporting to Authorities, C.R.S. 18-8-111, is charged when a person provides false information or lies to law enforcement. Many people believe that telling white lies when talking to the Greeley Police is justifiable. Juveniles especially find it amusing to play a joke by reporting a crime that never happened. However, any act of providing false information to the Weld County Sheriff or other law enforcement officer can result in criminal charges. If you have been charged with this offense, don’t wait, and contact a top criminal defense lawyer today. Get help here if you have been charged with False Reporting lawyer in Fort Collins or Larimer County.
Colorado Definition of False Reporting to Authorities, C. R. S. 18-8-111
The Colorado definition of False Reporting to Authorities, C. R. S. 18-8-111, is:
(1) (a) A person commits false reporting to authorities if:
(I) He or she knowingly:
(A) Causes by any means, including but not limited to activation, a false alarm of fire or other emergency or a false emergency exit alarm to sound or to be transmitted to or within an official or volunteer fire department, ambulance service, law enforcement agency, or any other government agency which deals with emergencies involving danger to life or property; or
(B) Prevents by any means, including but not limited to deactivation, a legitimate fire alarm, emergency exit alarm, or other emergency alarm from sounding or from being transmitted to or within an official or volunteer fire department, ambulance service, law enforcement agency, or any other government agency that deals with emergencies involving danger to life or property; or
(II) He makes a report or knowingly causes the transmission of a report to law enforcement authorities of a crime or other incident within their official concern when he knows that it did not occur; or
(III) He or she makes a report or knowingly causes the transmission of a report to law enforcement authorities pretending to furnish information relating to an offense or other incident within their official concern when he or she knows that he or she has no such information or knows that the information is false.
What are the Different Types of False Reporting Charges in Greeley, Colorado?
There are a few different criminal charges that deal with False Reporting in Greeley and across Colorado. The first is False Reporting to Authorities, which is charged when a person lies to a Greeley Police Officer, gives false information to the Weld County Sheriff, reports an emergency that never took place to a law enforcement officer, or pulls a fire alarm when there is no emergency. Similarly, False Reporting of Identifying Information, C.R.S. 18-8-111.5, is charged when a person knowingly provides a false name, address, or other identification information to law enforcement.
The more serious False Reporting charge is False Report of Explosives, Weapons or Harmful Substances, C.R.S. 18-8-110, which is a felony. It is charged as a class 5 felony when a person falsely reports that an explosive, weapon, or harmful substance has been placed in a public or private place. Alternatively, this offense can be charged as a class 6 felony for falsely reporting that there is a mass shooting or active shooter.
Penalties for False Reporting in Weld County
False Reporting to Authorities is generally sentenced as a class 2 misdemeanor in Weld County, which is punishable by up to 120 days in the Weld County Jail and a fine of $750. However, False Reporting of an Emergency is a class 1 misdemeanor if the emergency response results in the bodily injury of another person or the displacement or evacuation of people. It can also be charged as a class 1 misdemeanor if the false report included an allegation of an imminent threat to another’s safety by use of a deadly weapon. In these cases, False Reporting is punishable by up to 364 days in the Weld County Jail and a $1,000 fine.
False Reporting can also be a class 4 felony or class 3 felony if the emergency response resulted in serious bodily injury or death, respectively. In these cases, penalties will result in several years in a Colorado prison, up to hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines, and years of mandatory parole. The defendant will also be required to pay restitution.
How Can a Top Windsor, Colorado Criminal Defense Lawyer Help with a False Reporting Charge?
If you have been charged with False Reporting, retaining a top Windsor, Colorado criminal defense lawyer is essential. Whether you have been charged with misdemeanor or felony False Reporting, your future and freedoms are at stake. Even after you have completed sentencing requirements, you will still have a criminal record that will affect your ability to find or maintain employment. Don’t wait to contact a top criminal defense attorney who will protect your future today.
Accused of False Reporting to Authorities in Weld County? Be smart, and exercise your right to remain silent. Before you head to the Weld County Courthouse, contact the best criminal defense attorneys in Greeley from the O’Malley Law Office at 970-616-6009. Together, we can protect your future.
The location for the Weld County Courthouse is 901 9th Avenue, Greeley, Colorado. We’ll see you there!
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