When three Colorado Springs friends decided to go sledding, criminal charges were probably not in their plan. The friends decided to connect the sled to the back of the car and pull each other around a parking lot. However, things took a bad turn when the male driver crashed into a parked car and it fatally injured the friend on the sled. When the police arrived, the female passenger informed them she was the driver and did not identify her friend who was actually driving. Now, this girl is facing Accessory to Crime charges as well as False Information to Authorities (C.R.S. 18-8-111).
What is Accessory to Crime in Weld County?
Colorado law defines C.R.S. 18-8-105 – Accessory to Crime as:
Under Colorado law, “Render assistance” means to:
- Harbor or conceal the person; or
- Harbor or conceal the victim or a witness to the crime; or
- Warn such person of impending discovery or apprehension; except that this does not apply to a warning given in an effort to bring such person into compliance with the law; or
- Provide such person with money, transportation, weapon, disguise, or other thing to be used in avoiding discovery or apprehension; or
- By force, intimidation, or deception, obstruct anyone in the performance of any act which might aid in the discovery, detection, apprehension, prosecution, conviction, or punishment of such person; o
- Conceal, destroy, or alter any physical or testimonial evidence that might aid in the discovery, detection, apprehension, prosecution, conviction, or punishment of such person.
Because this woman used deception to obstruct the police in their investigation, she ‘rendered assistance’ and therefore became an Accessory to the Weld County Vehicular Homicide or Manslaughter charge.
As a friend, you want to protect your buddy and may think it best to take the fall.
It is a very understandable situation. In Weld, Morgan and Logan County, when police become involved, tensions run high and people immediately go into defense mode. As a friend, you want to protect your buddy and may think it best to take the fall. Maybe it would be a second strike against your friend, whereas your record is clean so you think they will go easier on you. If police find out you have lied or helped protect your friend, you both will get charged with False Information to Authorities and Accessory to Manslaughter. Accessory can be charged as a felony or petty offense depending on the underlying crime.
So, if your friend is being sought by the Greeley, Evans, or Erie Police, the safest help you can render is to have them be smart, exercise their right to remain silent, and call the experienced attorneys at the O’Malley Law Office, at 970-616-6009. If you or a loved one is being charged with Accessory to Crime, contact us for a free consultation. Together we can protect you and your loved one’s future.
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