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Forgery In Colorado, C.R.S. 18-5-102

Denver, Colorado, Forgery Lawyer, C.R.S. 18-5-102, 18-5-104

Colorado forgery, at C.R.S. 18-5-102, is a Class 5 felony. It can also be charged in Adams County as second degree forgery, C.R.S. 18-5-104, a class 1 misdemeanor.  It generally involves an intent to defraud someone — whether the government, a business or a private citizen. Forgery is similar in many respects to criminal impersonation, except it involves pretending to be another on some type of writing.

Elements Of Proving Forgery And Second-Degree Forgery In Arapahoe And Douglas County, Colorado

Forgery is more specifically defined in Douglas County and Arapahoe County, as conduct by a person intending to defraud another, when that person falsely makes, completes, alters or utters a written instrument that is of value. Valuable items include money, securities, stock, bonds, deeds, wills, contracts, checks, promissory notes (loans), a publicly recorded document or an official government document (like a ticket or summons).

The forgery statute, C.R.S. 18-5-102, is designed to prohibit persons from tricking others out of their valuable property ownership or title — as a form of theft. Since the government frequently accepts and records property ownership documents like deeds and wills, documents filed with the government involving false representations amount to forgery.

Possible Sentences For Forgery Convictions In Kiowa And Jefferson County

Forgery is a Class 5 felony in Kiowa County and Jefferson County. It is punishable by imprisonment in the Colorado Department of Corrections for anywhere from one year to three years. For second degree forgery, the court can decrease that sentence to 18 months in the Kiowa County Jail or the Jefferson County Jail. In addition to a prison sentence to D.O.C., the court can give a community corrections sentence, a work release sentence up to two years or a probation sentence. There are many factors that influence which sentence the court will choose upon a forgery conviction in Aurora, Denver, Castle Rock and Centennial, so it is best to consult a criminal defense lawyer specialist right away.

Forgery cases can involve complicated proof issues, defenses and sentencing. If you’ve been contacted by police or think you might be, act smart, exercise your right to remain silent and call a forgery criminal defense lawyer at the Sawyer Legal Group, LLC, at 303-731-0719. Together, we can protect your future.

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