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Photo Of Kyle B. Sawyer

Charged With A Crime? It Doesn’t Mean You’re Guilty.

Endangering Public Transportation Lawyer | Man Arrested at DIA

On Behalf of | Jan 3, 2020 | Endangering Public Transportation |

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Endangering public transportation is a criminal offense in Colorado that involves threatening or injuring someone on board a bus, light rail, or airplane. This applies to just about anyone on public transportation including crew members, operators, attendants, or passengers. Earlier this month, a man was arrested at DIA after allegedly making threatening statements and sending questionable text messages in regards to a flight that was about to depart. Accusations or charges surrounding disturbances such as these on public transportation requires skilled representation from an endangering public transportation lawyer.

Colorado’s Endangering Public Transportation Law

C.R.S. 18-9-115 defines the specific elements of endangering public transportation in Denver, Colorado Springs, and Fort Collins. A person commits this serious crime if they:

  • (a) tamper with a facility of public transportation with intent to cause any damage, malfunction, nonfunction, theft, or unauthorized removal of material which would result in the creation of a substantial risk of death or serious bodily injury to anyone; or
  • (b) stop or board a public conveyance with the intent of committing a crime thereon; or
  • (c) on a public conveyance, knowingly threaten any operator, crew member, attendant, or passenger:
  • (I) with death or imminent serious bodily injury; or
  • (II) with a deadly weapon or with words or actions intended to induce belief that such person is armed with a deadly weapon; or
  • (d) on a public conveyance:
  • (I) knowingly or recklessly causes bodily injury to another person; or
  • (II) with criminal negligence causes bodily injury to another person by means of a deadly weapon.

According to the report in the story above, a passenger sitting next to the man became concerned about the statements he was making and observed a text message she felt was threatening to the passengers on board.

Penalties for Endangering Public Transportation in Denver

Endangering public transportation is seen as a significant threat to public safety in Colorado. Therefore, conviction can come with steep penalties. As a class 3 felony, consequences can include:

  • 4 – 12 years in the Colorado Department of Corrections,
  • fines of up to $750,000

Denver Endangering Public Transportation Lawyer

A highly skilled criminal defense attorney is essential in cases of endangering public transportation. Sometimes statements made on flights or on a bus route are taken out of context or entirely misunderstood. Perhaps this applies to your case or you didn’t board the transportation with intent to commit a crime. Nonetheless, contact our office today for a free initial consultation.

If you or someone you know is facing endangering public transportation charges in Colorado, be smart. Contact the strategic defense lawyers at Sawyer Legal Group, LLC at 303-731-0719. Together, we can protect your future.

Photo by Omar Prestwich