Last year in Grand Junction, Colorado (Mesa County), a parole officer was charged with Forgery, C.R.S. 18-5-102, and had a federal lawsuit brought against him. The Colorado Parole Officer was suspected on many counts to have forged the arrest dates of parole violators, in order to keep them in jail past the allotted 10 days, if the paperwork had not been filed. This was shocking because, as an official working within the Colorado Department of Corrections (DOC), there was a high expectation that the officer could be trusted. It is essential that Coloradoans can trust the justice system and those whose job it is to run it in Adams and Douglas County. Without that trust, our judicial system can no longer be respected or believed to be effective.
Identity Theft is another form of fraud we see at our office, when perpetrators falsify anything from government-issued documents to checks to IDs. Conspirators from Denver, Colorado committed forgery last year when they tried to submit false tax return documents in hopes of profiting from the refund they would receive under the names of recently deceased individuals.
A person commits Forgery in Jefferson, Broomfield and Arapahoe County if, with intent to defraud, such person falsely makes, completes, alters, or utters a written instrument which is or purports to be, or which is calculated to become or to represent if completed things such as money, stamps, stock, bonds, a deed, will, contract, assignment, commercial instrument, check, or other instrument which does or may evidence, create, transfer, terminate, or otherwise affect a legal right, interest, obligation, or status, a public record or an instrument filed or required by law to be filed or legally fileable in or with a public office or public servant; or a written instrument officially issued or created by a public office, public servant, or government agency. (For a complete list, see C.R.S. 18-5-102). The conduct of the Parole Officer mentioned above would definitely fall within this definition.
It is also important to note that uttering a forged document to a peace officer shall create a presumption that the person intended to defraud such peace officer. This would include signing a misdemeanor summons or traffic ticket with a false name.
Forgery is a 5 class felony in all Colorado counties, such as Boulder, Larimer or Weld County. Prosecutors will prosecute people harshly for Forgery or Theft. They will do their best to convict you of a crime if a false document is in circulation as evidence. If you are accused of Forgery charges, contact an experienced attorney to represent you. Call us today at the O’Malley Law Office at 303-731-0719. Together, we can protect your future.