Here in Greeley and Weld County, Colorado, there are two classifications of criminal offenses: Misdemeanor and Felony. Broadly speaking, misdemeanor punishments are less severe and are typically given to non-violent but slightly serious crimes. Felony charges are assigned for violent and more serious crimes, making their punishment more severe. It is important to understand the differences between these two types of criminal charges as they can affect daily life for many.
Greeley Misdemeanor Charges and Punishments
Misdemeanor crimes are not as serious as felony crimes in Greeley. They are broken down into 3 classes, or types, of misdemeanor crimes. Class 1 misdemeanors are the most serious, while class 3 misdemeanors are the least serious of the three. Below is a chart that breaks down these different classes and the punishments that follow along with them at sentencing. Generally, misdemeanor convictions can result in up to 24 months of county jail time, a potential fine of up to $1,000, or both county jail time and a fine.
| Misdemeanor Class Type | Punishment |
| Class 1 Misdemeanor | Between 6 months and 18 months of County Jail time, a fine between $500 and $5,000, or both
*for extraordinary risk crimes: Between 6 months and 24 months in County Jail, a fine between $500 and $5,000, or both |
| Class 2 Misdemeanor | Between 3 months and 12 months in County Jail, a fine between $500 and $1,000, or both |
| Class 3 Misdemeanor | Up to 6 months in County Jail, a fine between $50 and $750, or both |
Common misdemeanor crimes are:
- Theft
- Criminal Mischief
- Aggravated Motor Vehicle Theft
- Assault in the Third Degree
- Resisting Arrest
- Harassment
- Prostitution
- Disorderly Conduct
Weld County Felony Charges and Punishments
In Weld County and Greeley, felony crimes typically involve violent crimes and crimes that are more serious in nature. They can be broken down into 6 Classes, with the inclusion of the extraordinary risk label. Similar to misdemeanor crimes, class 1 felonies are the most serious, while class 6 felonies are the least serious of them all. Typical felony crimes are punishable between 1 year in State prison and a Death Penalty sentence, in addition to a fine between $1,000 and $100,000,000. Below is a table that breaks down each felony class, punishment, and parole period.
| Felony Class Type | Punishment | Mandatory Parole Period |
| Class 1 Felony | Between a Life and Death sentence | None |
| Class 2 Felony | Between 8 years and 24 years in the Colorado Department of Corrections (Prison), a fine between $5,000 and $1,000,000, or both | 5 years for a violent crime, 3 years for a non-violent crime |
| Class 3 Felony | Between 4 and 12 years in prison, a fine between $3,000 and $750,000, or both
*Between 4 and 16 years in prison, a fine between $3,000 and $750,000, or both |
3 years
*5 years |
| Class 4 Felony | Between 2 and 6 years in prison, a fine between $2,000 and $500,000, or both
*Between 2 and 8 years in prison, a fine between $2,000 and $500,000, or both |
3 years
*3 years |
| Class 5 Felony | Between 1 and 3 years in prison, a fine between $1,000 and $100,000, or both
*Between 1 and 4 years in prison, a fine between $1,000 and $100,000, or both |
2 years
*2 years |
| Class 6 Felony | Between 1 year and 18 months in prison, a fine between $1,000 and $100,000, or both
*Between 1 and 2 years in prison, a fine between $3,000 and $750,000, or both |
1 year
*1 year |
Typical Felony Crimes are:
Both felony and misdemeanor cases present serious problems for those charged, and will affect the daily life and opportunities to the accused. If you have been accused of a crime, arm yourself with experienced criminal defense attorneys who will fight for you.