Our top Greeley criminal defense attorneys advise that when a person provides false information or lies to law enforcement, they can be charged with False Reporting, C.R.S. 18-8-111. False Reporting is often a class 2 misdemeanor, which some people do not think should be taken seriously. However, even a conviction for class 2 misdemeanor False Reporting can lead to being sentenced to up to 120 days in the Weld County Jail, which can significantly impact the rest of your life. Additionally, False Reporting to Authorities in Weld County can even be a class 1 misdemeanor or a felony crime in some circumstances, resulting in harsher penalties. The defense lawyers at the O’Malley Law Office take every criminal charge seriously and will fight for you and the best possible outcome in your case. If you are facing a False Reporting charge in Fort Collins or Larimer County, you can find help here.
Legal Definition of False Reporting to Authorities, C. R. S. 18-8-111, in Weld County
In Weld County, the 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.
False Reporting Examples in Eaton, Ault and Severance, Colorado
A few examples of actions that could result in False Reporting charges in Eaton, Ault or Severance are:
- Going through an alarmed emergency exit or pulling a fire alarm when there is no emergency
- Reporting a crime when there was no crime
- Lying to law enforcement and providing false information to get revenge on someone
- Telling authorities there is an emergency when there isn’t one
“Knowing” is the key part of a False Reporting charge. If the person who reports an emergency believes that there really is an emergency, then they are not guilty of False Reporting.
What are the Two Types of False Reporting in Weld County?
In Weld County, the most common type of False Reporting is False Reporting to Authorities, C.R.S. 18-8-111. However, there is also a criminal charge of False Report of Explosives, Weapons, or Harmful Substances, C.R.S. 18-8-110. This is defined as:
Any person who reports to any other person that a bomb or other explosive, any chemical or biological agent, any poison or weapon, or any harmful radioactive substance has been placed in any public or private place or vehicle designed for the transportation of persons or property, knowing that the report is false, commits a class 6 felony.
False Report of Explosives, Weapons, or Harmful Substances is more serious than False Reporting to Authorities. False Report of Explosives is a class 6 felony, punishable by 12 to 18 months in a Colorado prison, $1,000 to $100,000 in fines, and 1 year of mandatory parole following incarceration.
What are the Sentences and Penalties for False Reporting to Authorities in Greeley, Colorado?
In Greeley, the sentences and penalties for a person convicted of False Reporting to Authorities vary, depending on how much damage a person causes by making the false report. The table below outlines the sentences and penalties for different acts of False Reporting:
| Action/Circumstances | Sentence | Penalties |
| False Reporting that does not fall under the criteria for other sentences, qualifying for a minimum punishment | Class 2 misdemeanor | · Up to 120 days in the Weld County Jail
· Maximum of $750 in fines · Restitution to pay for the cost of emergency response or evacuation |
| · The false report leads to the occupants of a building, place of assembly, or facility of public transportation having to evacuate, or
· The emergency response results in bodily injury to another person |
Class 1 misdemeanor | · Up to 364 days in the Weld County Jail
· Maximum of $1,000 in fines · Restitution to pay for the cost of emergency response or evacuation |
| The emergency response results in serious bodily injury to another person | Class 4 felony | · 2 to 6 years in a Colorado prison
· $2,000 to $500,000 in fines · 3 years of mandatory parole after incarceration · Restitution to pay for the cost of emergency response or evacuation |
| The emergency response results in death to another person | Class 3 felony | · 4 to 12 years in a Colorado prison
· $3,000 to $750,000 in fines · 3 years of mandatory parole after incarceration · Restitution to pay for the cost of emergency response or evacuation |
Regardless of whether you have been charged with misdemeanor or felony False Reporting, it can impact your freedom and career. A top criminal defense attorney can fiercely defend you at the Weld County Court to mitigate the severity of your charges. Your charges could even be completely dismissed. The attorneys at the O’Malley Law Office understand that you may have made a mistake, or you truly believed there was an emergency. Let us help you. To make our help more productive, never answer questions from a police officer. They only ask questions to build a case against you. They are not your friend – and never believe that “I have nothing to hide.”