Violation of a Protection Order, C.R.S. 18-6-803.5, is charged in Greeley, CO when a person violates any of the conditions of a protection order / restraining order. Early this year, Colorado congressional candidate Ike McCorkle was arrested on an accusation of violating a restraining order. The candidate had allegedly sent an email to his uncle, who filed a restraining order against him, on New Year’s Eve. If McCorkle is convicted, he would be convicted of a class 2 misdemeanor, which can involve county jail time and a fine.
What are Protection Orders / Restraining Orders at the Weld County Courthouse?
Protection orders, also known as restraining orders, are filed at the Weld County Courthouse to prevent one person from contacting another. What many people don’t know is that Colorado protection orders don’t just prohibit contact between two parties, but they also prohibit many acts. Often, a restraining order will impose conditions like refraining from drinking alcohol and surrendering their firearms while the order is in effect. Violating any of these conditions – not just the no-contact order – can result in being charged with Violation of a Protection Order, C.R.S. 18-6-803.5.
What is Violation of a Protection Order, C.R.S. 18-6-803.5, in Greeley?
Violation of a Protection Order, C.R.S. 18-6-803.5, is defined as follows in Greeley:
(a) Contacts, harasses, injures, intimidates, molests, threatens, or touches the protected person or protected property, including an animal, identified in the protection order or enters or remains on premises or comes within a specified distance of the protected person, protected property, including an animal, or premises or violates any other provision of the protection order to protect the protected person from imminent danger to life or health, and such conduct is prohibited by the protection order…
In other words, if a restraining order is in effect against you, you can be charged with this crime if you violate any of the conditions of the order. This doesn’t just include contacting the protected party, but any other conditions you are required to abide by. It’s not uncommon to be charged with Violation of a Protection Order for neglecting to surrender your firearms on time, or for having a beer when you think no one’s looking.
What are the Penalties for Restraining Order Violations in Weld County?
Penalties for restraining order violations in Weld County depend on the type of protection order and the reason for it being filed. These potential penalties for a conviction of Violation of a Protection Order are outlined in the table below:
Classification |
Type / Circumstances |
Penalties |
| Class 2 misdemeanor / M2 | Any restraining order violation that does not fall under the circumstances listed below |
|
| Class 1 misdemeanor / M1 | Violation of a Protection Order where:
|
|
If you have been accused of violating a protection order, don’t wait to contact a top criminal defense lawyer to represent you at the Weld County Court. Time is of the essence, and the outcome of your case partly depends on the attorney you retain. Give us a call today to discuss your charges, and we’ll help you protect your future.
Have you been charged with Violation of a Protection Order? Be smart, and exercise your right to stay silent. Then call 970-616-6009 to discuss your case with a top criminal defense lawyer from the O’Malley Law Office today. 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 cottonbro studio