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Felonies
Arson is the use of explosives or fire to cause harm to buildings or other structures. Arson can be charged as a felony or misdemeanor depending on circumstances. Assault involves acts that cause or are meant to cause physical injury to another person. Assault can be charged as a felony or misdemeanor depending on circumstances. Burglary is the illegal entry into a building for the purpose of committing a crime in the building. Child Abuse is defined in a very broad manner under Colorado law and includes any mistreatment or lack of care that results in injury or even the threat of danger to a child. Child abuse may be charged as a felony or misdemeanor depending on circumstances. Computer Crime is the unauthorized accessing, harming, or modification of a computer or computer network. Computer crime may be charged as a felony or misdemeanor depending on circumstances. Criminal Impersonation occurs when someone knowingly misrepresents their true identity for personal gain. Criminal Mischief occurs when a person knowingly causes damage to another person’s property. Criminal mischief may be charged as a felony or misdemeanor depending on circumstances. Criminally Negligent Homicide is defined as causing the death of another person due to actions that were criminally negligent. Cultivation of Marijuana is the unauthorized and knowing growing or processing of marijuana. Domestic Violence is not a crime. It is a sentence enhancer. The domestic violence classification may attach to any felony or misdemeanor that was committed against a wife, girlfriend or family member. The attachment of the domestic violence classification significantly increases the possible penalties of the underlying crime you are charged with. Drug Offenses many include the possession of any illegal substance, the trafficking of illegal substances, or the production of illegal substances. Depending upon the amount of drugs you are caught with and what the police think you intended to do with the drugs, drug offenses may be charged as petty offenses, misdemeanors or felonies. False Imprisonment involves confining another person to a fixed space without their consent. Force is not necessary. False imprisonment may be charged as a misdemeanor or a felony. Forgery is the fraudulent creation, modification or sharing with others of documents. Forgery may be charged as a misdemeanor or a felony. Manslaughter can be charged when someone recklessly causes the death of another person or purposefully aids in another person’s suicide. Menacing is simply acting threatening towards another person in such a way that the other person is fearful of being injured. Menacing may be charged as a misdemeanor or felony. Murder can be charged as first degree – the most serious type of murder accompanied by the most severe penalties – or second degree. First degree murder is defined as causing the death of another on purpose and after deliberation. There are also other specific circumstances that may qualify as first degree murder. Second degree murder is defined as knowingly causing the death of another person. Notice that deliberation is not required for second degree murder. Perjury is the giving of a false statement that you know is not true while you are under oath. Depending on circumstances, perjury may be charged as a misdemeanor or a felony. Possession of Marijuana does not really need explanation. The seriousness of the offense is determined by how much marijuana one is found to have in his/her possession. Possession of marijuana may be charged as a misdemeanor or felony depending on circumstances. Robbery is the taking of something from another person by using the threat of force or actual force. Aggravated robbery may be charged if a deadly weapon is used. Sexual Felonies include crimes like indecent exposure, internet exploitation of a child, sexual assault on a child, sexual assault, sexual exploitation of child. Some of which can also be charged as misdemeanors depending on circumstances. Stalking is a form of harassment which involves threats in conjunction with harassing behavior like following or calling someone repeatedly or just repeated harassing behavior. Theft is the taking of something of value with the intent to permanently deprive the owner of ever possessing it again. Depending on the value of what is taken, theft may be charged as a misdemeanor or felony. Trespass involves the entry onto someone else’s property without permission. Trespass may be charged as a petty offense, misdemeanor or felony. Vehicular Assault occurs when serious injury is caused by reckless driving. Vehicular Homicide occurs when death is caused by reckless driving. Misdemeanors Arson is the use of explosives or fire to cause harm to buildings or other structures. Arson can be charged as a felony or misdemeanor depending on circumstances. Assault involves acts that cause or are meant to cause physical injury to another person. Assault can be charged as a felony or misdemeanor depending on circumstances. Child Abuse is defined in a very broad manner under Colorado law and includes any mistreatment or lack of care that results in injury or even the threat of danger to a child. Child abuse may be charged as a felony or misdemeanor depending on circumstances. Computer Crime is the unauthorized accessing, harming, or modification of a computer or computer network. Computer crime may be charged as a felony or misdemeanor depending on circumstances. Criminal Mischief occurs when a person knowingly causes damage to another person’s property. Criminal mischief may be charged as a felony or misdemeanor depending on circumstances. Criminal Tampering involves interfering with the property of a utility company in an effort to stop or harm service. Disorderly Conduct can involve the use profane language or gestures to encourage fighting, being noisy in public, fighting in public, firing a gun in public or displaying deadly weapon in public. Disorderly conduct can be charged as a misdemeanor or a petty offense. Domestic Violence is not a crime. It is a sentence enhancer. The domestic violence classification may attach to any felony or misdemeanor that was committed against a wife, girlfriend or family member. The attachment of the domestic violence classification significantly increases the possible penalties of the underlying crime you are charged with. Drug Offenses many include the possession of any illegal substance, the trafficking of illegal substances, or the production of illegal substances. Depending upon the amount of drugs you are caught with and what the police think you intended to do with the drugs, drug offenses may be charged as petty offenses, misdemeanors or felonies. False Imprisonment involves confining another person to a fixed space without their consent. Force is not necessary. False imprisonment may be charged as a misdemeanor or a felony. Forgery is the fraudulent creation, modification or sharing with others of documents. Forgery may be charged as a misdemeanor or a felony. Harassment may occur in a number of ways including physical contact without pain, obscene language or gestures in public, following someone, making an obscene phone call, repeatedly communicating with someone or using language to start a fight. What qualifies these acts as harassment is when they are committed for the purpose of harassing or annoying someone. Harassment may be charged as a misdemeanor or petty offense. Menacing is simply acting threatening towards another person in such a way that the other person is fearful of being injured. Menacing may be charged as a misdemeanor or felony. Perjury is the giving of a false statement that you know is not true while you are under oath. Depending on circumstances, perjury may be charged as a misdemeanor or a felony. Possession of Marijuana does not really need explanation. The seriousness of the offense is determined by how much marijuana one is found to have in his/her possession. Possession of marijuana may be charged as a misdemeanor or felony depending on circumstances. Resisting Arrest is the use of force or threats of force to discourage the police from making an arrest. Sexual Offenses that can be charged as misdemeanors include internet exploitation of a child and sexual exploitation of child, both of which can also be charged as felonies depending on circumstances. Theft is the taking of something of value with the intent to permanently deprive the owner of ever possessing it again. Depending on the value of what is taken, theft may be charged as a misdemeanor or felony. Trespass involves the entry onto someone else’s property without permission. Trespass may be charged as a petty offense, misdemeanor or felony. Petty Offenses Disorderly Conduct can involve the use profane language or gestures to encourage fighting, being noisy in public, fighting in public, firing a gun in public or displaying deadly weapon in public. Disorderly conduct can be charged as a misdemeanor or a petty offense. Drug Offenses many include the possession of any illegal substance, the trafficking of illegal substances, or the production of illegal substances. Depending upon the amount of drugs you are caught with and what the police think you intended to do with the drugs, drug offenses may be charged as petty offenses misdemeanors or felonies. Harassment may occur in a number of ways including physical contact without pain, obscene language or gestures in public, following someone, making an obscene phone call, repeatedly communicating with someone or using language to start a fight. What qualifies these acts as harassment is when they are committed for the purpose of harassing or annoying someone. Harassment may be charged as a misdemeanor or petty offense. Minor in Possession of Alcohol is the possession or consumption of alcohol by someone under the age of 21. Public Indecency is basically the act of getting too sexual in a public place. Possession of Marijuana does not really need explanation. The seriousness of the offense is determined by how much marijuana one is found to have in his/her possession. Possession of marijuana may be charged as a misdemeanor or felony depending on circumstances. Trespass involves the entry onto someone else’s property without permission. Trespass may be charged as a petty offense, misdemeanor or felony. Juvenile Delinquency is the commission of any crime by a child – someone under the age of 18. "Wobblers": Felony or Misdemeanor A "wobbler" is an offense that may be prosecuted as a felony or as a misdemeanor. An offense that was prosecuted as a felony may also be downgraded to a misdemeanor at the time of sentencing. This occurs when statutes authorize judges to punish offenders as either misdemeanants or felony offenders. "Wobbler" Example. Randy is convicted of assault with a deadly weapon. State law provides that the offense is punishable by up to one year in jail or up to five years in prison. The judge sentences Randy to four months in jail, three years of probation, and 200 hours of community service. The sentence makes the conviction a misdemeanor.
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