2nd Degree Felony Arson in Weld County
Arson Caused Damage to Police SUV

If you have been charged with 2nd Degree Arson. Be smart, and exercise your right to remain silent. Contact the O’Malley Law Office at 970-616-6009.

2nd Degree Felony Arson can be charged, in Weld County, when the value of the property that was damaged is more than $100. Recently, a Police SUV was set on fire in Louisville, and it was determined to be Arson.  The cost to replace the damaged vehicle was placed at $70,000. If someone is criminally charged with this crime, they could face a 2nd Degree Felony Arson charge, and have a very big restitution order. If you are facing Arson charges in Fort Collins, click here.

What is the Definition of Second Degree Arson, C.R.S. 18-4-103, in Greeley, Colorado?

In Greeley, Colorado the Definition of Second Degree Arson, C.R.S. 18-4-103, is:

A person who knowingly sets fire to, burns, causes to be burned, or by the use of any explosive damages or destroys, or causes to be damaged or destroyed, any property of another without his consent, other than a building or occupied structure, commits second degree arson.

It is important to note that if the damage is less than $100, then the sentence is a misdemeanor and not a felony charge.

“Knowingly” What is the Definition in Weld County? C.R.S. 18-4-103

The Weld County definition of “Knowingly” is important to know, because how it is defined is used in determining what to charge you with, and whether a jury finds you guilty or not-guilty. “Knowingly” is defined as:

A person acts “knowingly” or “willfully”, with respect to a result of his conduct, when he is aware that his conduct is practically certain to cause the result.

For example, you act “Knowingly” if you place gasoline in a car and then light a match. You can be relatively certain that your actions are going to result in damage to the car. In the above case, if the people who started the police car on fire are found to have “Knowingly” set the fire, then they could be charged with Second Degree Felony Arson and face prison.

What are the Punishments and Sentence for a Felony Second Degree Arson Charge in Greeley, Colorado?

In Greeley, the sentence for Felony Second Degree Arson is a class 4 felony, with punishments of 2-6 years in the Colorado Department of Corrections, a fine of $2,000-$500,000, and with 3 years mandatory parole. If the damage to the property is less than $100, then the sentence is a class 2 misdemeanor with penalties of 3-12 months in the Weld County Jail, and a fine of $250-$1,000.

Why You Should Hire a Weld County Attorney and the Defenses Against 2nd Degree Arson

Experienced Weld County attorneys can study the facts about your specific case and help you get the best outcome. Some common defenses used in a Felony 2nd Degree Arson case are:

  • The fire was not intentionally set
  • You were the owner of the property
  • The cost of the damage was less than $100 (this would be to change the charge from felony to misdemeanor)
  • You were told by the owner to burn the property – given his full consent

If you or someone you love has been charged with Second Degree Felony or Misdemeanor Arson, be smart, and exercise your right to remain silent. The Greeley Police are not there to help you. Contact the best criminal defense attorneys from the O’Malley Law Office at 970-616-6009 today. Together, we can protect your future.

Image by Hermann Kollinger from Pixabay