Weld County is one of Colorado’s most firearm-friendly regions, with deep roots in agriculture, hunting, and rural self-reliance. But even responsible gun owners in Greeley, Evans, Windsor, Johnstown, Fort Lupton, Eaton, Ault, Platteville, Milliken, Kersey, LaSalle, Hudson, and across the eastern plains can find themselves facing a Prohibited Use of Weapons charge after a single lapse in judgment or after being falsely accused. If this has happened to you, a criminal defense attorney who knows Weld County law and courts is your most important call.
FAQ: Prohibited Use of Weapons in Weld County
What is Prohibited Use of Weapons under Colorado law?
C.R.S. § 18-12-106 defines several distinct prohibited uses of weapons. A person commits this offense by knowingly and unlawfully aiming a firearm at another person, discharging a firearm into an occupied building or vehicle, setting a loaded firearm so it can be discharged by contact, having a firearm while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or knowingly aiming or discharging a bow and arrow at another person. In Weld County, firearm-related charges under this statute arise most often from heated disputes, celebratory gunfire, or encounters where alcohol and weapons were both present.
What are the penalties for Prohibited Use of a Weapon in Greeley?
Prohibited Use of Weapons is a Class 2 misdemeanor in Colorado, carrying up to 120 days in jail and fines up to $750. While that may sound manageable, a conviction produces a permanent criminal record that can affect your ability to possess firearms in the future, pass background checks, maintain professional licenses, and secure employment across Greeley, Windsor, and the broader Weld County job market. A Prohibited Use of Weapons lawyer in Weld County will fight to keep a conviction off your record entirely.
What if I fired my weapon on my own property?
This is one of the most common questions our Prohibited Use of Weapons lawyers hear from clients in rural Weld County communities like Ault, Eaton, Keenesburg, Gilcrest, and Platteville. Colorado law does not provide blanket protection for discharging a firearm on private property. If the discharge was reckless, endangered others, or occurred while you were under the influence, charges can still follow. Local ordinances in Greeley and Evans may impose additional restrictions beyond state law. The specific facts and location of the discharge matter enormously.
Can I be charged with Prohibited Use of Weapons if no one was hurt?
Yes. The statute does not require that anyone be injured. Aiming a firearm at another person or discharging into an occupied structure is a crime regardless of outcome. Prosecutors in the Weld County District Attorney’s Office regularly file these charges even when no injury occurred, particularly when the incident involved a domestic dispute in Evans or Fort Lupton, a confrontation at a bar in Greeley, or a neighbor conflict in Johnstown or Milliken.
Where will my case be heard?
Prohibited Use of Weapons cases in Weld County are prosecuted by the Weld County District Attorney’s Office and heard in Weld County Court at the Weld County Courthouse in Greeley. Municipal charges may proceed in Greeley Municipal Court or the courts of Evans, Windsor, or Johnstown. A local criminal defense attorney in Greeley knows these prosecutors and courtrooms and will use that knowledge to pursue the best outcome in your case.
Charged with Prohibited Use of Weapons in Weld County? Call Today.
From Greeley and Evans to Windsor, Fort Lupton, Eaton, Ault, Hudson, and every community across Weld County, our criminal defense attorneys are ready to protect your rights, your firearms, and your future. Contact a Weld County Prohibited Use of Weapons lawyer today at 970-616-6009 for a free consultation. Together, we can protect your future.
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