Animal Cruelty and Aggravated Animal Cruelty are charged in Greeley and Weld County when a person is accused of harming an animal. It can be intentional or unintentional. A man is currently wanted for shooting a dog while he was riding an e-bike in Greeley. Very little information was provided in the article, but it was noted that the dog survived. If the dog was running around without a leash and no owner in sight, the man could have been trying to protect himself. There are many people who are scared of animals. If that’s the case, there may be a viable self-defense claim.
Weld County Cruelty to Animals Attorney: How is Animal Cruelty Charged in Colorado
The Weld County, Colorado law definition of Cruelty and Aggravated Cruelty to Animals – C.R.S. 18-9-202 – is:
(b) Any person who intentionally abandons a dog or cat commits the offense of cruelty to animals.
(1.5)(a) A person commits cruelty to animals if the person recklessly or with criminal negligence tortures, needlessly mutilates, or needlessly kills an animal.
(b) A person commits aggravated cruelty to animals if the person:
(I) Knowingly tortures, needlessly mutilates, or needlessly kills an animal; or
(II) Knowingly kills or causes serious bodily injury that results in the death of a law enforcement animal, whether the law enforcement animal is on duty or not on duty. For the purposes of this subsection (1.5)(b)(II), “serious bodily injury” means bodily injury that involves a substantial risk of death, a substantial risk of permanent disfigurement, a substantial risk of protracted loss or impairment of the function of any part or organ of the body, breaks, fractures, a penetrating wound from a knife or a penetrating gunshot wound, or burns of the second or third degree.
The injuries involved will be very important in determining whether the case is charged as Animal Cruelty or Aggravated Animal Cruelty. If the shooting is deemed as a mutilation, and the person did it knowingly, it could result in the Aggravated Cruelty to Animals charge.
Penalty for Cruelty and Aggravated Cruelty to Animals in Johnstown and Windsor
In Johnstown, Windsor, and across Weld County, Animal Cruelty is a class 1 misdemeanor. This level misdemeanor is punishable by up to 364 days in the Weld County Jail. However, if someone has a prior animal abuse conviction, then it is charged as a class 6 felony. This level felony is punishable by 12 to 18 months in the Colorado Department of Corrections with a mandatory 90 days in Weld County Jail if the person is sentenced to probation. If the charge is Aggravated Animal Cruelty, it is a class 4 felony. The penalty for this level felony is 2 to 6 years in prison.
If you or someone you love has been charged with Animal Cruelty or Aggravated Animal Cruelty, 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 to schedule a free initial consultation. Together, we can protect your future.
Photo by Lum3n