Greeley Witness and Victim Crimes Attorney
Witnesses and victims can make or break a case for the prosecution or the defense in Weld, Morgan and Logan County. In order to ensure a fair legal system, laws have been put in place to protect victims and witnesses from bribes, retaliation, and intimidation. Without these laws in place, chaos would ensue as defendants might go to extreme lengths to offer bribes or threats in the fight for their freedom.
- Bribing a Witness or Victim – C.R.S. 18-8-703
- Victim or Witness Intimidation – C.R.S. 18-8-704
- Retaliation Against a Victim or Witness – C.R.S. 18-8-706
- Perjury - C.R.S. 18-8-502
- Tampering of a Witness or Victim – C.R.S. 18-5-113
Punishment for Witness and Victim Crimes like Retaliation Against a Victim
Any crime committed against a Victim or Witness is serious in the eyes of the law because it threatens the fair and just legal process for both sides in Greeley, Evans and Erie. Because of this, any victim or witness crime is a felony, punishable with serving time in the Colorado Department of Corrections (DOC).
|
Crime |
Felony Level |
|
Bribing of a Victim or Witness |
Class 4 felony |
|
Victim or Witness Intimidation |
Class 4 felony |
|
Aggravated Intimidation of a Victim or Witness |
Class 3 felony |
|
Retaliation Against a Victim or Witness |
Class 3 felony |
In many cases, more than one Victim / Witness crime will be charged from one incident. For example, if the accused tried to bribe a witness in his case with money and when the witness refused, the accused threatened the witness, Attempt to Bribe a Witness and Witness Intimidation would both be charged.
Commonly Charged Witness and Victim Crimes
Bribery of a Witness
Bribing or Bribery of a Victim or Witness is charged when a defendant offers money or property (something of value) to a witness or victim to get them to lie, not tell the whole story, avoid being ordered to testify in court, or not show up to court.
Witness Intimidation
Victim or Witness Intimidation is charged when a victim, witness, or their families are threatened or harmed to get them to lie, not tell the whole story, avoid being ordered to testify in court, or not show up to court at all. If a deadly weapon is used to threaten or harm the victim / witness, the harsher crime Aggravated Intimidation of a Witness or Victim – C.R.S. 18-8-705 – would be charged.
Retaliation Against a Witness or Victim
Retaliation Against a Victim or Witness is charged when a victim or witness is threatened, injured, harassed or their property is damaged in revenge for their testifying in court.
