What Makes up Stalking in Colorado

Last month in Fort Collins, Colorado State University authorities alerted trainees and professors about a guy presumably stalking individuals on school. Tyrese M. “TJ” Lane was charged with felony, trespass, and harassment stalking, and was bought to keep away from the CSU school. Regardless of the charges and the limiting order, however, he was still apparently seen in the location numerous times.

The information of Lane’s stalking charges are still being examined, however, they raise a multitude of concerns about what makes up stalking and harassment in Colorado. So let’s attempt to respond to those concerns now.

What Is Our State’s Legal Meaning of Stalking?

Under Colorado law, an individual devotes stalking if she or he intentionally:

  • Makes a trustworthy hazard to an individual and “consistently follows, methods, contacts, or locations under security” that individual, a relative, or somebody they remain in a relationship with; or
  • Threatens an individual and “consistently makes any kind of interaction with that individual … no matter whether a discussion occurs;” or
  • ” Consistently follows, techniques, contacts, locations under security, or makes any kind of interaction” that triggers major psychological distress.

This law is likewise referred to as Vonnie’s Law, called to honor Vonnie Flores, a stalking victim from Leadville who was killed in 2010 by her next-door neighbor – somebody who had been formally detained for stalking.

Stalking is viewed as a major criminal activity in Colorado. A novice stalking transgressor can be charged with a class 5 felony, which brings fines of as much as $100,000 and 1-4 years in jail. A subsequent or 2nd offense is a class 4 felony, which brings fines of as much as $500,000 and 2-8 years in jail.

What Is Our State’s Legal Meaning of Harassment?

While stalking is a felony, harassment – a comparable criminal offense – is a misdemeanor. The distinction? Stalking develops a repetitive pattern of harassment, whereas harassment can be a separated occurrence.

An individual dedicates harassment in Colorado if she or he intentionally:


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  • Makes physical contact with an individual; or
  • Utilizes profane language or makes a profane gesture to an individual in a public location; or
  • Follows an individual in public; or
  • Interacts with somebody with the intent to threaten or bug or in a profane way; or
  • Calls somebody or makes a phone ring consistently without any intent of having a discussion, or
  • Consistently calls somebody at bothersome times; or
  • Insults, taunts, difficulties, or utilizes offending language consistently to prompt a physical reaction.

Harassment is a class 3 misdemeanor, punishable by as much as 6 months in prison and a $50 fine. If the victim is selected based upon race, religious beliefs, color, origins, or nationwide origin, harassment ends up being a class 1 misdemeanor, punishable by 6-18 months in prison and as much as $5,000 in fines.

How Can You Resist Stalking Charges?

Among the most crucial elements of the stalking statute is whether the offender made a “reliable danger.” A reputable danger does not need to be direct, however, it does need to trigger an affordable individual to fear for their security or the security of their household.

So if the accused had no intention of making the victim afraid since she or he was merely joking, stalking charges may not hold up in court. The same opts for a victim overreacting. Stalking charges must be dropped if an affordable individual would not fear for their security.

If you have been implicated of stalking in Colorado, you must prevent any contact with your accuser and after that connect to a knowledgeable criminal defense lawyer to safeguard your rights.

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