Fourth-Degree Arson
Denver Arson Criminal Attorney
Have you or a loved one been contacted about potential arson charges? Maybe what happened was an accident. Maybe you were driving through Denver and your spark started a fire. Fourth-degree arson is one of the Colorado arson crimes and a serious offense. In Colorado, the government takes arson very seriously. When you live in a place like Castle Rock, Parker, Aurora, Denver or any other place in Colorado, the police think about the Hayman Fire or the Fourmile Canyon Fire and they tend to fight hard against people suspected of arson. What you need is an experienced Denver arson attorney to defend you and protect your rights.
Fourth-Degree Arson — Definition
Fourth-degree arson is defined as a crime under C.R.S. 18-4-105. The definition of the crime is 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.
Fourth-degree arson is then broken down into classes based upon damage and potential damage. For instance, if a person is endangered then the charge is a Class 4 felony. If only property is endangered and the value of that property is between $300 – $1,999, then the charge is a misdemeanor. Finally, the arson charge would result in a petty offense if only property is endangered and the value of the property is less than $300.
It does not take a lot of imagination to realize that any fire in a forest area could damage thousands of dollars of property and homes and risk life. Firefighters are routinely killed in America trying to put out fires. You will notice from the definition above that it is not necessary for you to be a bad person or trying to hurt someone or something in order to be charged with a felony. So, be extremely careful when camping or starting a fire to burn brush or unwanted growth. This law is unforgiving.
A Criminal Defense Attorney Makes All the Difference
Because of the range of punishment associated with fourth-degree arson, you need to have a Denver area criminal attorney to help you. The district attorney’s office may try to charge you with a higher degree of arson if it has a valid basis for believing that you could be convicted. A criminal attorney from Sawyer Legal Group, LLC, will fight the government for you.
Talk To A Criminal Attorney At No Charge About Your Criminal Defense Matter — Flexible Payment Plans Available
You need a lawyer who will fight for justice and to protect your rights. We offer a free initial consultation about your case in our office. Here at Sawyer Legal Group, LLC, we serve the communities of Denver, Adams County, Arapahoe County, Jefferson County and Douglas County, and all other Colorado counties. We have flexible payment plans to make our work for you affordable. So, if you have been contacted by a Colorado police officer or fire investigator regarding any potential fourth-degree arson charges, be smart, exercise your right to remain silent and call us right away at 303-731-0719. Together, we can protect your future.