False Reporting of an Emergency in Weld County is a class 3 misdemeanor and needs a criminal attorney to resolve the case. A person is charged with False Reporting when they report a crime or emergency that they know did not actually happen. With worry of Covid-19 virus spreading, a Texarkana, Texas man was charged with false reporting after he created a social media fake news post reporting a positive Covid-19 case in the local jail. The social media post resulted in a lot of worry and alarm, causing several jail employees to call in, so they didn’t risk exposure to Covid-19. Subsequently, the man making the fake report was found and charged with false reporting.
False Reporting of an Emergency in Greeley, Colorado is defined under C.R.S. 18-8-111:
(2)(a) A person commits false reporting of an emergency if he or she knowingly commits an act in violation of subsection (1) of this section that includes a knowing false report of an imminent threat to the safety of a person or persons by use of a deadly weapon.
(b)(I) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection (2)(b), false reporting of an emergency is a class 1 misdemeanor.
(II) False reporting of an emergency is a class 1 misdemeanor and is an extraordinary risk crime that is subject to the modified sentencing range specified in section 18-1.3-501(3) , if:
(A) The threat causes the occupants of a building, place of assembly, or facility of public transportation to be evacuated or otherwise displaced; or
(B) The emergency response results in bodily injury of another person.
(III) False reporting of an emergency is a class 4 felony if the emergency response results in serious bodily injury of another person.
(IV) False reporting of an emergency is a class 3 felony if the emergency response results in the death of another person.
(c) Upon a conviction pursuant to this subsection (2), in addition to any other sentence imposed or restitution ordered, the court shall sentence the defendant to pay restitution in an amount equal to the cost of any emergency response or evacuation, including but not limited to fire and police response, emergency medical service or emergency preparedness response, and transportation of any individual from a building, place of assembly, or facility of public transportation.
(d) It is not a defense to a prosecution pursuant to this subsection (2) that the defendant or another person did not have the intent or capability of committing the threatened or reported act.
What are Examples of False Reporting of an Emergency / Crime in Weld County?
In the above story, if the false report of a positive Covid-19 incited enough panic that the jail could not operate and had to be evacuated or displaced, then the accused man could be charged with false reporting. False reporting can be anything from calling in to say you’ve been robbed when you just lost your wallet, setting off a fire alarm or calling in a bomb threat. False Reporting of an Emergency is slightly different. Although some of these potential situations may seem like a joke, it is very important to not call the police unless an actual emergency is happening. Otherwise, you could be charged with False Reporting. Imagine a world where the police know that a certain percentage of their calls are fake. That would totally undermine the response time and nature of our protective services.
Punishment for False Reporting of an Emergency in Greeley, Colorado
The punishment for False Reporting in Greeley, Colorado is a class 3 misdemeanor, except in cases where a person deliberately causes an alarm to go off while committing another crime, in which case it would be a Colorado class 2 misdemeanor. Class 3 misdemeanors are punishable by up to 6 months of jail time and fines between $50 and $750. A class 2 misdemeanor is punishable by jail time between 3 to 12 months, and fines between $250 to $1,000.
If you have been charged with False Reporting to Authorities, 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 your free consultation. Together, we can protect your future.
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