Facebook Post Leads to Weld County Hit and Run Charge (CRS 42-4-1601)

We have a right to privacy in Weld County and the cities of Greeley, Hudson, and Berthoud. Social networking media has provided a way to invade this right and many people are getting into trouble over posting comments or pictures of their criminal activity. Don’t jeopardize your freedom by talking about illegal activities or posting pictures that depict a crime.

Police regularly patrol social networking sites and have a very active presence online. Don’t make their job easy by posting pictures of underage drinking which could lead to a Minor in Possession of Alcohol charge (CRS 18-13-122) or Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor (CRS 18-6-701). Posting pictures of drugs could lead to possession charges or posts bragging or alluding to sexual activity with juveniles could bring about charges of Sexual Assault on a Child (CRS 18-3-405).

An eighteen year old juvenile recently took to Facebook to brag about his New Year’s Eve exploits in which he claimed to have been driving drunk and hit another car. When he updated his status it alerted his 650+ friends of his alleged illegal activity. A few of those friends then messaged the local police station who were currently investigating a hit and run over New Years Eve. Police decided to pay the teenager a visit and found that his car had damage to the side that corresponded to the damage caused to the other vehicle and that auto parts recovered at the scene matched broken parts of his car. He was arrested and charged with the Weld County equivalent of leaving the scene of an accident or “hit and run” (CRS 42-4-1601).

If police contact you regarding charges that may have been revealed on a social networking site like Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, be smart, exercise your right to remain silent, and contact the experienced criminal defense attorneys at the O’Malley Law Office at 970-616-6009. Together, we can protect your future.