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Photo Of Kyle B. Sawyer

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Fourth-Degree Arson Definition

Fourth-Degree Arson, C.R.S. 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.

(3) Fourth-degree arson is:

(a) a petty offense if only property is thus endangered and the value of the property is less than $300;

(b) a class 2 misdemeanor if only property is thus endangered and the value of the property is $300 or more but less than $1,000;

(c) a class 1 misdemeanor if only property is thus endangered and the value of the property is $1,000 or more but less than $2,000;

(d) a class 6 felony if only property is thus endangered and the value of the property is $2,000 or more but less than $5,000;

(e) a class 5 felony if only property is thus endangered and the value of the property is $5,000 or more but less than $20,000;

(f) a class 4 felony if only property is thus endangered and the value of the property is $20,000 or more but less than $100,000;

(g) a class 3 felony if only property is thus endangered and the value of the property is $100,000 or more but less than $1,000,000;

(h) a class 2 felony if only property is thus endangered and the value of the property is $1,000,000 or more.

(4) 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.

(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.

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