Criminal Mischief and Theft Lawyer in Weld County, Colorado
How are Theft and Criminal Mischief Charged in Greeley?

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Property crimes, like Theft and Criminal Mischief, are similarly charged based on the value of the items damaged or stolen. Let’s take a closer look at these two criminal charges in Greeley and Weld County.

Weld County Definition of Criminal Mischief, C.R.S. 18-4-501

The Weld County, Colorado law definition of Criminal Mischief, C.R.S. 18-4-501, is:

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.

Definition of Theft, C.R.S. 18-4-401, in Greeley

The Greeley, Colorado legal definition of  Theft, – C.R.S. 18-4-401 – is:

(1) A person commits theft when he or she knowingly obtains, retains, or exercises control over anything of value of another without authorization or by threat or deception; receives, loans money by pawn or pledge on, or disposes of anything of value or belonging to another that he or she knows or believes to have been stolen, and:

(a) Intends to deprive the other person permanently of the use or benefit of the thing of value; or

(b) Knowingly uses, conceals, or abandons the thing of value in such manner as to deprive the other person permanently of its use or benefit…

Penalties for Criminal Mischief and Theft at the Weld County Courts

At the Weld County Courts, penalties for both Criminal Mischief and Theft depend on the value of the item or property that was stolen or damaged.  The greater the value of the item or property, the greater the penalties.  See the table below for possible penalties that could result from conviction of either offense:

Value of Item Stolen / Damaged

Classification

Penalties
Less than $300 Petty offense
  • Up to 10 days in the Weld County Jail
  • Fine of up to $300
  • Restitution payments to recuperate the losses from the stolen or damaged property
$300 – $1,999 Misdemeanor
  • Up to 364 days in the Weld County Jail
  • Fine of up to $1,000
  • Restitution payments
$2,000 or more Felony
  • 1+ years in the Colorado DOC, depending on how much property was damaged or stolen
  • Parole after release from prison
  • Fine of thousands of dollars
  • Restitution payments

Charged with Theft or Criminal Mischief? Contact a Top Greeley Lawyer Today

If you are have been charged with Theft or Criminal Mischief, now is the time to contact a top Greeley criminal defense lawyer.  Whether you have been charged with a petty offense or a felony, conviction of either crime could have a negative impact on the rest of your life.  Retaining the best criminal defense lawyer is the only way to protect the damage that can result from these property related charges.  Don’t wait, and give us a call today so that we can help you protect your future.

Have you been charged with Criminal Mischief or Theft?  Exercise your right to remain silent, and do not talk to the Greeley Police or the Weld County Sheriff.  Then call 970-616-6009 to talk to a top criminal defense lawyer about your charges.  Together, we can protect your future.

Photo by Wendelin Jacober

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