Criminal Trespass, C.R.S. 18-4-502+, is charged in Greeley when a person unlawfully enters or remains on another’s premises. In 2022, a Colorado man was charged with Criminal Trespass after he went into the home of a woman practically naked. The man – who was wearing nothing but chaps at the time – had also violated a protection order the woman had filed against him, and showed signs of being drunk. He’s lucky he is only facing the Trespassing charge, because since he had an active protection order in place, his actions could also qualify for 2nd Degree Burglary charges as well.
Blog Navigation: 1. How Do the Weld County Courts Define Criminal Trespass, C.R.S. 18-4-502+? 2. Weld County Jail Time + Other Penalties for Criminal Trespass in Fort Lupton & Eaton |
1. How Do the Weld County Courts Define Criminal Trespass, C.R.S. 18-4-502+?
Criminal Trespass, C.R.S. 18-4-502+, is divided into three different degrees in Weld County. Third Degree Criminal Trespass, C.R.S. 18-4-504 / 3rd Degree Trespassing, is defined as:
The definition of Second Degree Criminal Trespass, C.R.S. 18-4-503 / 2nd Degree Trespassing is:
(a) Unlawfully enters or remains in or upon the premises of another which are enclosed in a manner designed to exclude intruders or are fenced; or
(b) Knowingly and unlawfully enters or remains in or upon the common areas of a hotel, motel, condominium, or apartment building; or
(c) Knowingly and unlawfully enters or remains in a motor vehicle of another.
Finally, First Degree Criminal Trespass, C.R.S. 18-4-502 / 1st Degree Trespassing is defined as:
(a) Knowingly and unlawfully enters or remains in a dwelling of another; or
(b) Enters any motor vehicle with intent to commit a crime therein.
The degree of Criminal Trespass depends on the place and intent of the person charged.
2. Weld County Jail Time + Other Penalties for Trespassing in Fort Lupton & Eaton
Penalties for a Trespassing conviction in depend on the degree charged in Fort Lupton and Eaton. Most acts of Trespassing are petty offenses or misdemeanors, which can result in several months at the Weld County Jail and a fine of up to $1,000.
In some cases, Criminal Trespass can instead be charged as a felony. If a defendant is convicted of felony Trespassing charges, they can expect up to 3 years in the Colorado Department of Corrections, a fine of thousands of dollars, and 1 to 2 years of mandatory parole after the prison sentence.
3. Why Hire a Top Greeley Trespassing Lawyer?
The wide range of sentences for Trespassing provide ample reason to seek a top Greeley criminal defense lawyer as soon as possible. You could be sentenced to time at the Weld County Jail and face hundreds of dollars in fines. This also means that you will have the offense on your Weld County Court criminal record, which will make it difficult to find or maintain a job. These consequences will increase exponentially if you are instead convicted of felony Criminal Trespass charges.
No matter how minor or severe the Criminal Trespass charge, it is always worth it to seek a top criminal defense lawyer. Don’t wait, and call the best criminal defense attorneys who will fight on your behalf at the Weld County Courts.
Have you been charged with Criminal Trespass? First, exercise your right to remain silent. Then get in contact with an experienced criminal defense lawyer O’Malley Law Office today at (970) 616-6009 to talk about your case. Together, we can protect your future.
The location for the Weld County Courthouse is 901 9th Avenue, Greeley, Colorado. We’ll see you there!
Photo by Aaron J Hill