Knowingly reporting a crime or another emergency that you know did not actually occur is charged as False Reporting in Weld, Morgan, and Logan County. A teen is facing these charges, but I’m finding it really hard to believe that he had any ill intent in his report. In fact, the teen called 911 to report a fire in hopes that the fire trucks would arrive and their tall ladders would help him as his cat was stuck in a tree overnight. I can understand where this guy was coming from. He was probably worried he wouldn’t be taken seriously, so he made sure to report something that would get him the necessary tools. I’m not condoning what he did, but it seems silly to charge him with a crime when he was just trying to get some help.
Greeley False Reporting to Authorities Attorney: Definition of False Reporting for Cat Rescue in Johnstown and Berthoud
The Greeley, Johnstown, and Berthoud, Colorado law definition of False Reporting to Authorities – C.R.S. 18-8-111 – is:
(a) He or she knowingly:
(I) Causes by any means, including but not limited to activation, a false alarm of fire or other emergency or a false emergency exit alarm to sound or to be transmitted; or
(II) Prevents by any means, including but not limited to deactivation, a legitimate fire alarm, emergency exit alarm, or other emergency alarm from sounding or from being transmitted; or
(b) He makes a report or knowingly causes the transmission of a report to law enforcement authorities of a crime or other incident within their official concern when he knows that it did not occur; or
(c) He or she makes a report or knowingly causes the transmission of a report to law enforcement authorities pretending to furnish information relating to an offense or other incident within their official concern when he or she knows that he or she has no such information or knows that the information is false; or
(d) He or she knowingly provides false identifying information to law enforcement authorities.
As a class 3 misdemeanor, False Reporting is punishable by up to 6 months in the Weld County Jail and $750 in fines. I surely hope this teen does not have to serve any jail time for trying to get his pet help, just going about it the wrong way.
If you or someone you love has been charged with False Reporting, be smart, exercise your right to remain silent, and contact the best criminal defense attorneys from the O’Malley Law Office at 970-616-6009. Together, we can protect your future.
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