Cruelty to Animals, or Animal Abuse, is charged in Greeley and Weld County when a person is accused of harming an animal. It’s charged as Aggravated Cruelty to Animals when the animal dies as a result of the person’s actions (or inaction). A woman was recently arrested and charged with this crime after she drown her dog at the airport. According to the report, the woman was intending to fly with her dog, but didn’t have the correct paperwork with her. So, she took the dog into the bathroom and drown it, leaving it in the restroom and still catching her flight. Most often, we see accidents or unintentional actions result in Animal Abuse charges, not something so blatant.
Greeley Cruelty to Animals Attorney: How is Aggravated Cruelty to Animals Charged in Colorado?
The Greeley, Colorado law definition of Cruelty to Animals / Aggravated Cruelty to Animals – C.R.S. 18-9-202 – is:
(b) Any person who intentionally abandons a dog or cat commits the offense of cruelty to animals.
(1.5)(a) A person commits cruelty to animals if the person recklessly or with criminal negligence tortures, needlessly mutilates, or needlessly kills an animal.
(b) A person commits aggravated cruelty to animals if the person:
(I) Knowingly tortures, needlessly mutilates, or needlessly kills an animal; or
(II) Knowingly kills or causes serious bodily injury that results in the death of a law enforcement animal, whether the law enforcement animal is on duty or not on duty. For the purposes of this subsection (1.5)(b)(II), “serious bodily injury” means bodily injury that involves a substantial risk of death, a substantial risk of permanent disfigurement, a substantial risk of protracted loss or impairment of the function of any part or organ of the body, breaks, fractures, a penetrating wound from a knife or a penetrating gunshot wound, or burns of the second or third degree.
(c) A person commits cruelty to a service animal or a law enforcement animal if the person violates subsection (1) of this section with respect to a service animal or a law enforcement animal, as those terms are defined in section 18-9-201, whether the service animal or law enforcement animal is on duty or not on duty.
The woman would likely be charged under subsection (1.5)(b)((I) for needlessly killing an animal.
Penalty for Cruelty to Animals and Aggravated Cruelty to Animals in Firestone and Johnstown
In Firestone, Johnstown and across Weld County, Cruelty to Animals is a class 1 misdemeanor. This level misdemeanor is punishable by up to 364 days in the Weld County Jail. Aggravated Cruelty to Animal is a class 4 felony. The penalty for a class 4 felony is 2 to 6 years in the Colorado Department of Corrections.
If you or someone you love has been charged with Cruelty to Animals, be smart, exercise your right to remain silent, and contact the best criminal defense attorneys from the O’Malley Law Office at 970-616-6009 to schedule a free initial consultation. Together, we can protect your future.
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