What to do if Charged?
1. Do not contact the accuser
You may be tempted to contact the accuser to try and resolve the issue directly. Do not contact the accuser. All correspondence before and after the incident can and will be used against you. A lawyer should be representing you in all stages to ensure that nothing hurts the defense case.
2. Do not destroy evidence
You may think that destroying any evidence in your possession will help your defense case. However tampering with evidence will almost always backfire against the defendant. Prosecutors have many resources to recover evidence that you think has been completely destroyed. When the evidence is presented in negotiations or at trial, it will make you look more guilty if you tried to destroy it beforehand. Tampering with evidence is also a crime in itself, which can be added on top of the sentence you could receive for 18-4-501 Colorado
3. Contact an experienced attorney
When you are charged with 18-4-501 Colorado, it is critical to exercise your right to an attorney. Your life is on the line and The Law Offices of Decker & Jones are prepared to defend your case. Contact us immediately at 303-573-5253 – even if you have not been charged yet. You need a defense team working in your corner to combat the prosecution ASAP.
The Basics Of § 18-4-501 18-4-501 Colorado
See below to read the law pertaining to § 18-4-501 18-4-501 Colorado
Reference the definitions from § 18-4-501 for details on the terminology
Decker & Jones will help you understand how the law pertains to your case
§ 18-4-501
(1) A person commits criminal mischief when he or she knowingly damages the real or personal property of one or more other persons, including property owned by the person jointly with another person or property owned by the person in which another person has a possessory or proprietary interest, in the course of a single criminal episode.
(2) Repealed by Laws 2009, Ch. 347, § 1, eff. Aug. 5, 2009.
(3) Repealed by Laws 2009, Ch. 347, § 1, eff. Aug. 5, 2009.
(4) Criminal mischief is:
<Text of (4)(a) effective until March 1, 2022>
(a) A class 3 misdemeanor when the aggregate damage to the real or personal property is less than three hundred dollars;
<Text of (4)(a) effective March 1, 2022>
(a) A petty offense when the aggregate damage to the real or personal property is less than three hundred dollars;
<Text of (4)(b) effective until March 1, 2022>
(b) A class 2 misdemeanor when the aggregate damage to the real or personal property is three hundred dollars or more but less than seven hundred fifty dollars;
<Text of (4)(b) effective March 1, 2022>
(b) A class 2 misdemeanor when the aggregate damage to the real or personal property is three hundred dollars or more but less than one thousand dollars;
<Text of (4)(c) effective until March 1, 2022>
(c) A class 1 misdemeanor when the aggregate damage to the real or personal property is seven hundred fifty dollars or more but less than one thousand dollars;
<Text of (4)(c) effective March 1, 2022>
(c) A class 1 misdemeanor when the aggregate damage to the real or personal property is one thousand dollars or more but less than two thousand dollars;
<Text of (4)(d) effective until March 1, 2022>
(d) A class 6 felony when the aggregate damage to the real or personal property is one thousand dollars or more but less than five thousand dollars;
<Text of (4)(d) effective March 1, 2022>
(d) A class 6 felony when the aggregate damage to the real or personal property is two thousand dollars or more but less than five thousand dollars;
(e) A class 5 felony when the aggregate damage to the real or personal property is five thousand dollars or more but less than twenty thousand dollars;
(f) A class 4 felony when the aggregate damage to the real or personal property is twenty thousand dollars or more but less than one hundred thousand dollars;
(g) A class 3 felony when the aggregate damage to the real or personal property is one hundred thousand dollars or more but less than one million dollars; and
(h) A class 2 felony when the aggregate damage to the real or personal property is one million dollars or more.
Free Legal Consultation Regarding Charge § 18-4-501 18-4-501 Colorado
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