Source: https://www.shouselaw.com/colorado/theft_home/felony-theft
Timestamp: 2019-02-17 08:44:12
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18-4-401 C.R.S.(2)(f) - (j) | "Felony theft" in Colorado law
Colorado Felony Theft (a/k/a Larceny)
(18-4-401 (f - j) C.R.S.)
Felony theft/ larceny in Colorado law under 18-4-401 C.R.S.(2)(f) through (j) is defined when someone intentionally steals another's property worth at least $2,000. Typical examples of felony larceny offenses include violations of:
The punishment for felony theft includes victim restitution payments in Colorado as well as fines and possibly incarceration that depend on the value of the stolen items:
1 - 1 ½ years in Colorado State Prison (with 1 year mandatory parole) and/or
$1,000 - $100,000 in fines
Class 5 felony in Colorado
1 - 3 years in prison (with 2 years mandatory parole) and/or
2 - 6 years in prison (with 3 years mandatory parole) and/or
$2,000 - $500,000 in fines
4 - 12 years in prison (with 5 years mandatory parole) and/or
$3,000 - $750,000 in fines
8 - 24 years in prison (with 5 years mandatory parole) and/or
$5,000 - $1,000,000 in fines
In this article, our Denver Colorado criminal defense lawyers discuss the following felony theft topics:
1. The legal definition of felony theft in Colorado
Colorado law defines felony theft (a.k.a. larceny) as stealing property that costs at least $2,000 or more.
taking property by false pretenes
2. Penalties for felony theft in Colorado
one to one-and-a-half (1 - 1 ½ ) years in prison with one (1) year mandatory parole and/or a fine of $1,000 to $100,000, and
one to three (1 - 3) years in prison with two (2) years mandatory parole and/or a fine of $1,000 to $100,000, and
two to six (2 - 6) years in prison with three (3) years mandatory parole and/or a fine of $2,000 to $500,000, and
four to twelve (4 - 12) years in prison with five (5) years mandatory parole and/or a fine of $3,000 to $750,000, and
eight to twenty-four (8 - 24) years in prison with five (5) years mandatory parole and/or a fine of $5,00 to $1,000,000, and
As discussed in more detail below, "at-risk" people in Colorado generally comprise the disabled or people aged seventy (70) or older. Colorado law provides increased penalties for theft against anyone classified as an “at-risk” person if:
The theft is committed in the victim's presence,
The person committing the theft is acting in a position of trust to the at-risk person (whether or not the theft is committed in the victim's presence), or
The person committing the theft knows the victim is an at-risk person (whether or not the theft is committed in the victim's presence).
one to three (1 - 3) years in prison with two (2) years mandatory parole and/or
four to twelve (4 - 12) years in prison with five (5) years mandatory parole and/or
2.2.1. Legal definition of "at-risk"
Pick-pocketing is the informal name for "theft by means other than force, threat, or intimidation." Pick-pocketing is always a felony, even if the stolen item(s) is not worth much money. Common examples include:
taking a wallet out of a person's pocket without the person knowing, and
Note that punishments are harsher if the victim is an "at-risk" person, which generally includes the disabled and people 70 and over (scroll above to section 2.2 for more information).
Pick-pocketing an "at-risk" person is a class 4 felony, carrying restitution as well as:
two to six (2 - 6) years in prison with three (3) years mandatory parole) and/or
$500 - $5,000 in fines, and
theft of less than $500 from an "at-risk" person
1 - 1 ½ years in prison (with 1 year mandatory parole) and/or
$1,000 - $100,000 in fines, and
theft of an "at-risk" person by means other than force, threats, or intimidation
theft of $500 or more from an "at-risk" person
$2,000 - $500,000 in fines, and
$3,000 - $750,000 in fines, and
3. Defenses to Colorado felony theft charges
Every individual case's unique facts determine which defense strategies could be most effective. A sampling of possible defenses includes:
The police's search and seizure was unconstitutional
the victim was not "at-risk"; or
Sole owners of property cannot possibly steal that property. It may be possible to prove sole ownership of property through such evidence as:
Criminal charges cannot stand if the defense lawyer can demonstrate that the defendant was the sole owner of the allegedly stolen property. Sole owners do not need other people's permission to take the property unless other people have an interest in it, such as leasees.
Colorado law makes theft an "intent offense."15 Consequently, defendants should avoid conviction if the prosecutors fail to show that the defendants deliberately took the property:
Example: After working all night, Henry is bleary-eyed and mistakenly takes his roommate's wallet instead of his own. Certainly Henry is legally obligated to return the wallet, but he committed no crime because he genuinely believed he was grabbing his own wallet.
Since intent is invisible and intangible, the D.A. frequently has trouble proving what a defendant is truly thinking. Therefore, the defense attorney's job is to raise a reasonable doubt that the defendant deliberately took property he/she knew belonged to someone else. That reasonable doubt is sufficient to sustain a "not guilty" verdict.
3.3. Police's search and seizure was unconstitutional
When police conduct an unlawful search or seizure, any evidence they find is "tainted." In this situation, the defense lawyer can file a motion to suppress evidence in Colorado with the court:
A motion to suppress asks the judge to throw out all the tainted evidence from the court's consideration. If the judge grants the motion, then the state may be left with insufficient evidence to continue prosecution.