Fourth Degree Arson Criminal Defense Attorneys in Colorado

Have you been charged with the crime § 18-4-105 Fourth Degree Arson? This is a serious charge and demands immediate legal representation and guidance. The Law Offices of Decker & Jones know how to successfully defend a §18-4-105 Fourth Degree Arson charge in the State of Colorado to protect your innocence.

What to do if Charged?

1. Do not contact the accuser

You may be tempted to contact the accuser to try and resolve the issue directly. Do not contact the accuser. All correspondence before and after the incident can and will be used against you. A lawyer should be representing you in all stages to ensure that nothing hurts the defense case.

2. Do not destroy evidence

You may think that destroying any evidence in your possession will help your defense case. However tampering with evidence will almost always backfire against the defendant. Prosecutors have many resources to recover evidence that you think has been completely destroyed. When the evidence is presented in negotiations or at trial, it will make you look more guilty if you tried to destroy it beforehand. Tampering with evidence is also a crime in itself, which can be added on top of the sentence you could receive for Fourth Degree Arson

3. Contact an experienced attorney

When you are charged with Fourth Degree Arson, it is critical to exercise your right to an attorney. Your life is on the line and The Law Offices of Decker & Jones are prepared to defend your case. Contact us immediately at 303-573-5253 – even if you have not been charged yet. You need a defense team working in your corner to combat the prosecution ASAP.

The Basics Of § 18-4-105 Fourth Degree Arson

See below to read the law pertaining to § 18-4-105 Fourth Degree Arson

The Law

Reference the definitions from § 18-4-105 for details on the terminology

Definitions

Decker & Jones will help you understand how the law pertains to your case

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§ 18-4-105

 (1) A person who knowingly or recklessly starts or maintains a fire or causes an explosion, on his own property or that of another, and by so doing places another in danger of death or serious bodily injury or places any building or occupied structure of another in danger of damage commits fourth degree arson.

(2) Fourth degree arson is a class 4 felony if a person is thus endangered.

<Text of (3) effective until March 1, 2022>

(3) Fourth degree arson is a class 2 misdemeanor if only property is thus endangered and the value of the property is one hundred dollars or more.

<Text of (3) effective March 1, 2022>

(3) Fourth degree arson is:

(a) A petty offense if only property is thus endangered and the value of the property is less than three hundred dollars;

(b) A class 2 misdemeanor if only property is thus endangered and the value of the property is three hundred dollars or more but less than one thousand dollars;

(c) A class 1 misdemeanor if only property is thus endangered and the value of the property is one thousand dollars or more but less than two thousand dollars;

(d) A class 6 felony if only property is thus endangered and the value of the property is two thousand dollars or more but less than five thousand dollars;

(e) A class 5 felony if only property is thus endangered and the value of the property is five thousand dollars or more but less than twenty thousand dollars;

(f) A class 4 felony if only property is thus endangered and the value of the property is twenty thousand dollars or more but less than one hundred thousand dollars;

(g) A class 3 felony if only property is thus endangered and the value of the property is one hundred thousand dollars or more but less than one million dollars; and

(h) A class 2 felony if only property is thus endangered and the value of the property is one million dollars or more.

(4)(a) Fourth degree arson is a class 3 misdemeanor if only property is thus endangered and the value of the property is less than one hundred dollars.

(b) This subsection (4) is repealed, effective March 1, 2022.

(5) It shall not be an arson offense pursuant to this section if:

(a) A person starts and maintains a fire as a controlled agricultural burn in a reasonably cautious manner; and

(b) No person suffers any of the following as a result of the fire:

(I) Bodily injury;

(II) Serious bodily injury; or

(III) Death.

(6) For purposes of this section, “controlled agricultural burn” means a technique used in farming to clear the land of any existing crop residue, kill weeds and weed seeds, or reduce fuel buildup and decrease the likelihood of a future fire.

§ 18-4-101 Definitions

As used in this article, unless the context otherwise requires:

(1) “Building” means a structure which has the capacity to contain, and is designed for the shelter of, man, animals, or property, and includes a ship, trailer, sleeping car, airplane, or other vehicle or place adapted for overnight accommodations of persons or animals, or for carrying on of business therein, whether or not a person or animal is actually present.

(2) “Occupied structure” means any area, place, facility, or enclosure which, for particular purposes, may be used by persons or animals upon occasion, whether or not included within the definition of “building” in subsection (1) of this section, and which is in fact occupied by a person or animal, and known by the defendant to be thus occupied at the time he acts in violation of one or more of sections 18-4-102 to 18-4-105.

(3) Property is that of “another” if anyone other than the defendant has a possessory or proprietary interest therein.

(4) If a building is divided into units for separate occupancy, any unit not occupied by the defendant is a “building of another”.

Free Legal Consultation Regarding Charge § 18-4-105 Fourth Degree Arson

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