Committing a crime against a person because of their race, religion, or sexual orientation is charged as Bias-Motivated Crimes (aka Hate Crimes) in Castle Rock and Douglas County. A 19-year-old man was recently charged with this crime after an older man claimed he was held hostage and beaten because he identified as gay. According to the report, the 19-year-old was with the older man doing drugs together when he became violent. He took the older man’s phone and refused to let him leave. He is accused of physically and verbally assaulting the man for days – including yelling homosexual slurs at the man. If this had occurred in Colorado, the teen would likely be facing charges for Bias-Motivated Crimes, Assault, and False Imprisonment.

Douglas County Hate Crimes Lawyer: Definition of Bias-Motivated Crimes

The Douglas County, Colorado law definition of Bias-Motivated Crimes – C.R.S. 18-9-121(2) – is:

“

(2) A person commits a bias-motivated crime if, with the intent to intimidate or harass another person because of that person's actual or perceived race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, physical or mental disability, or sexual orientation, he or she:

(a) Knowingly causes bodily injury to another person; or

(b) By words or conduct, knowingly places another person in fear of imminent lawless action directed at that person or that person's property and such words or conduct are likely to produce bodily injury to that person or damage to that person's property; or

(c) Knowingly causes damage to or destruction of the property of another person.”

Based on the information provided in the article, the teen would likely be charged under subsection (a).

Sentence for Bias-Motivated Crimes / Hate Crimes in Highlands Ranch and Parker

A criminal charge under subsection (b) or (c) is a misdemeanor crime, whereas a charge under subsection (a) is a felony in Castle Rock, Highlands Ranch, and Parker. Causing bodily injury to another because of their sexual orientation is a class 5 felony, unless more than one person is involved in the assault, in which case it becomes a class 4 felony charge.  For the teen above, he would be facing the class 5 felony, which is punishable by 1 to 3 years in the Colorado Department of Corrections.

If you or a loved one has been charged with a Bias Motivated Crime or Hate Crime, be smart, exercise your right to remain silent, and contact the best criminal defense attorneys from the O’Malley Law Office at 303-265-1950 to schedule a free consultation. Together, we can protect your future.

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