There are many reasons people may say something that isn't true, or dramatize a story. Maybe it happens out of revenge or deep anguish. In one case, a woman was angry enough at her ex-boyfriend to call 911 and report a fire in her ex-boyfriend's house. When the fire department responded and arrived, they found there was no fire. If this incident occurred in Adams or Arapahoe County, the woman could face charges of False Reporting.

False Reporting in Colorado

In Jefferson County and across Colorado, the definition of False Reporting, C.R.S 18-8-111, is:

“A person commits false reporting to authorities if:

(a) He or she knowingly:

(I) Causes by any means, including but not limited to activation, a false alarm of fire or other emergency or a false emergency exit alarm to sound or to be transmitted to or within an official or volunteer fire department, ambulance service, law enforcement agency, or any other government agency which deals with emergencies involving danger to life or property; or

(II) Prevents by any means, including but not limited to deactivation, a legitimate fire alarm, emergency exit alarm, or other emergency alarm from sounding or from being transmitted to or within an official or volunteer fire department, ambulance service, law enforcement agency, or any other government agency that deals with emergencies involving danger to life or property; or

(b) He makes a report or knowingly causes the transmission of a report to law enforcement authorities of a crime or other incident within their official concern when he knows that it did not occur; or

(c) He makes a report or knowingly causes the transmission of a report to law enforcement authorities pretending to furnish information relating to an offense or other incident within their official concern when he or she knows that he or she has no such information or knows that the information is false; or

(d) He or she knowingly provides false identifying information to law enforcement authorities.”

Facing False Reporting charges?

The woman called authorities providing false alarms of a fire, which was transmitted to the local fire department. Under the legal definition of False Reporting, the woman could face charges for her false reports of a fire. False Reporting in Colorado is normally a class 3 misdemeanor, but it's a class 2 misdemeanor if it's committed during the commission of another offense, like Robbery or Assault. A class 2 misdemeanor could result in a Douglas County Jail sentence of up to 12 months.

Telling the Truth is Easier in Denver

As said before, some people lie out of anger or revenge. In other cases, people become nervous when police are involved in a case, and they end up lying to them. When confronted by the police, you're required by law to give them certain information, such as your name and address. You shouldn't lie about these. However, there are also cases where you're not obligated to answer specific questions about an incident. You should always exercise your right to remain silent rather than twist the truth if confronted by authorities.

Contact the Best Denver Criminal Defense Lawyers

Crimes involving police can be dangerous in El Paso County and across Colorado. This is because police work closely with DA's, who are responsible for a prosecution. Essentially they both work on the same team towards the same goal. This is why you need an expert criminal defense lawyer to fight for you if facing False Reporting charges. We will help protect your future. Contact our office today for a free initial consultation.

Get Help Now

If you or a loved one is facing False Reporting charges in the Denver area, be smart, exercise your right to remain silent, and contact the best criminal defense attorneys at the O'Malley Law Office at 303-830-0880. Together, we can protect your future.Request a Free Consultation

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