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Extortion Criminal Defense Attorney – C.R.S. 18-3-207

Extortion in Colorado

We often see examples of Extortion in popular Hollywood films. The villains have power to force others to do something unlawful after threats are made against their families. Obviously, the villains in movies are making bad decisions on purpose. In the real world,  Extortion charges are filed after less serious actions are taken or when there's no criminal intent. Let's take a closer look at the law on Extortion in Jefferson and Denver County, Colorado.

Don't let Extortion charges damage your future. An experienced lawyer can protect you!

How Criminal Extortion is Charged in Denver and Arapahoe County

To be charged with Extortion in Denver, someone would have to make another perform an act they don't want to do or to keep someone from doing something they want to do. This must be accomplished by threats to confine or restrain, cause economic hardship or bodily injury, or damage a person's property or reputation. Additionally, the person charged must perform or cause an unlawful act or invoke action by a third party after making a threat. People can also face charges of Criminal Extortion for trying to get money from someone by threatening to report his / her immigration status to law enforcement officials.  See the complete Colorado statute on Extortion below.

How Aggravated Criminal Extortion is Charged in Colorado

Extortion can become aggravated with more serious conduct. Aggravated Extortion is charged in Aurora and Littleton, Colorado when someone tries to get another to do something against their will by using “chemical, biological, or harmful radioactive agents, weapons, or poison” (C.R.S. 18-3-207(2)). An expert criminal defense lawyer is absolutely vital if you're facing charges of Criminal Extortion or Aggravated Criminal Extortion. There are too many elements involved in these crimes that require the assessment and expertise of a lawyer.

Examples of Criminal Extortion and Aggravated Criminal Extortion

A controlling boyfriend in Denver wants his girlfriend to drive an hour from their place to pick something up for him, but she doesn't want to. He then threatens to damage her car if she doesn't listen to him. She doesn't, so the boyfriend smashes her car window to hint he could do more damage to it later. The boyfriend could now be facing charges of Criminal Extortion.

A teenage girl in El Paso County is angry with her mom because she won't let her date anyone, stay out on the weekends, or wear what she wants to wear to school. Out of anger, she puts a chemical in her mom's coffee one morning, hoping it'll make her sick. She plans on using a harsher chemical later if her mom doesn't let her have more freedom. The teen could face charges of Aggravated Criminal Extortion.

Punishment and Sentences for Criminal Extortion in Adams County

In Adams and Douglas County, and across Colorado, Criminal Extortion is charged as a class 4 felony. If convicted of this crime, you could be facing between 2 and 6 years in the Colorado Department of Corrections. Aggravated Criminal Extortion is a class 3 felony, which means you could risk 4-12 years in the Department of Corrections. At Sawyer Legal Group, LLC we believe a mistake shouldn't define you and your future. We fight hard to defend the rights of our clients to ensure they have a hopeful future.

Why You Need the Best Denver Extortion Defense Lawyers

A mistake shouldn't define you and your future

Nobody's perfect. People take their anger out in many different ways. And, we often see people lying about the conduct of another. Unfortunately, sometimes this means people are charged with a crime for doing nothing wrong, or for something they didn't realize would lead to criminal charges. Small arguments escalate and people make mistakes. We think criminal charges should not be filed against people who had no criminal intent or are the victim of the revenge of another. That's why we present your best defense before a judge and jury in an extortion case. Consult one of our exceptional criminal defense attorneys today if facing charges of Extortion.

Our criminal defense lawyers will always present your best defense before a judge and jury in an extortion case.

 

Colorado Criminal Extortion – Aggravated Extortion Statute: C.R.S. 18-3-207

“(1)

A person commits criminal extortion if:

(a) The person, without legal authority and with the intent to induce another person against that other person's will to perform an act or to refrain from performing a lawful act, makes a substantial threat to confine or restrain, cause economic hardship or bodily injury to, or damage the property or reputation of, the threatened person or another person; and

(b) The person threatens to cause the results described in paragraph (a) of this subsection (1) by:

(I) Performing or causing an unlawful act to be performed; or

(II) Invoking action by a third party, including but not limited to, the state or any of its political subdivisions, whose interests are not substantially related to the interests pursued by the person making the threat.

(1.5) A person commits criminal extortion if the person, with the intent to induce another person against that other person's will to give the person money or another item of value, threatens to report to law enforcement officials the immigration status of the threatened person or another person.

(2) A person commits aggravated criminal extortion if, in addition to the acts described in subsection (1) of this section, the person threatens to cause the results described in paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of this section by means of chemical, biological, or harmful radioactive agents, weapons, or poison.

(3) For the purposes of this section, “substantial threat” means a threat that is reasonably likely to induce a belief that the threat will be carried out and is one that threatens that significant confinement, restraint, injury, or damage will occur.

(4) Criminal extortion, as described in subsections (1) and (1.5) of this section, is a class 4 felony. Aggravated criminal extortion, as described in subsection (2) of this section, is a class 3 felony.”

Get Help Now

If you or a loved one is facing criminal charges in the Denver area, be smart, exercise your right to remain silent, and contact the top criminal defense lawyers at Sawyer Legal Group, LLC at 303-830-0880. Together, we can protect your future. Request a Free Consultation

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