Protection orders in Douglas County, Colorado prohibit many different actions. With one misstep or flaw in judgement, a restrained person can face significant penalties. Being too close to a victim’s property, contacting them electronically, or crossing some other boundary a judge has put in place can land defendants in jail. Firearm possession and alcohol / drug use are also elements that can lead to trouble for those with a restraining order against them. Protection order violations require contacting a an experienced VPO lawyer as soon as possible.
Douglas County Protection Order Violation
Douglas County’s protection order law prohibits acts that harass, injure, intimidate, or threaten a protected person. CRS 18-6-803.5 provides:
(1) A person commits the crime of violation of a protection order if, after the person has been personally served with a protection order that identifies the person as a restrained person or otherwise has acquired from the court or law enforcement personnel actual knowledge of the contents of a protection order that identifies the person as a restrained person, the person:
(a) Contacts, harasses, injures, intimidates, molests, threatens, or touches the protected person or protected property, including an animal, identified in the protection order or enters or remains on premises or comes within a specified distance of the protected person, protected property, including an animal, or premises or violates any other provision of the protection order to protect the protected person from imminent danger to life or health, and such conduct is prohibited by the protection order.
How Bad are Protection Order Violations in Castle Rock?
Each protection order violation is unique. The punishment won’t always be the same from case to case. Violating a civil protection order is a class 2 misdemeanor and can lead to:
- a county jail sentence of 3 – 12 months,
- fines of $250 – $1K
However, violating a criminal protection order elevates to a class 1 misdemeanor in Colorado. A conviction in these situations may result in:
- a county jail sentence of 6 – 18 months,
- fines of $500 – $5K
In both scenarios, a subsequent offense escalates the case to an extraordinary risk crime, extending the possible period of incarceration even further.
Douglas County VPO Lawyer
If you find yourself trying to navigate an allegation of violating a protection order, Sawyer Legal Group is here to help. Our 5 skilled defense attorneys have decades of combined experience successfully navigating this charge in Douglas, Arapahoe, and El Paso County. Perhaps the contact was accidental, you didn’t knowingly violate the order, or you didn’t threaten violence. Either way, contact our office today for a free, confidential consultation. One of our VPO lawyers will carefully evaluate your case, answer questions you might have, and suggest next steps in your defense. Our affordable fees and flexible payment plans make strategic, proven representation a reality for the accused.
Don’t talk to the police about protection order violations – talk to us. 303-265-1950
Photo by Yan Krukov
