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(720) 740-3466 (720) 740-3466 Also known as blackmail, extortion is considered a serious offense by law enforcement authorities in Colorado and prosecuted harshly by courts. Even if you are a first-time offender with no history of prior arrests, you could face multiple years in prison upon conviction for extortion, especially if you are found to have engaged in this behavior while in possession of a deadly weapon.
However, it is still possible to proactively contest accusations of this act, and a knowledgeable bribery attorney could help with the process. By retaining and working closely with an experienced Denver extortion lawyer, you could have the best chance of resolving your charges as favorably as possible.
To secure a conviction of criminal extortion under Colorado state law, prosecutors must prove that your actions met three criteria. First, you must have attempted to induce or actually induced someone else to give you something of value, refuse to perform some kind of lawful act, or otherwise act against their own will. Second, you must have compelled that behavior from the targeted person by making a “substantial threat” to physically or economically harm them, confine them against their will, damage their property, or impugn their public reputation.
Third, the act of threatening the aforementioned harm must have involved an illegal act on your part or invoked a third party—such as a police officer—whose interests were not significantly aligned with or related to yours. As a Denver extortion attorney can further explain, a substantial threat is one that is reasonably likely to make the targeted person believe that the threatened harm will actually occur to them should they fail to comply with the demands.
The basic version of extortion defined above is a class 4 felony, meaning that if you are convicted of that offense, you could face a fine of between $2,000 and $500,000 at the discretion of the court as well as a prison term of two to six years and a mandatory three-year parole term on your release. However, if you commit extortion through the use, threatened use, or possession of a deadly weapon, or if your actions directly result in someone other than a co-conspirator suffering serious or fatal injury, the sentencing range upon conviction increases to between five and 16 years in prison.
This offense could also be elevated to “aggravated extortion” if the substantial threat you made involves a threatening use of any harmful biological, chemical, poisonous, or radioactive agents. Under this scenario, the offense would be considered a class 3 felony carrying a fine of $3,000 to $750,000, a minimum five-year mandatory parole period, and a prison term of four to 12 years upon conviction—increased to between 10 and 32 years if the offense is considered a “violent crime”. Seeking support from a skilled defense lawyer could be crucial to minimizing the sanctions associated with any type of extortion charge pursued in Denver courts.
Extortion is always a felony offense in Colorado, which means being accused of extorting another person is almost invariably a life-altering experience. Fortunately, you have help available from a legal representative with experience in both prosecution and defense across more than 90 different trials.
A conversation with a Denver extortion lawyer could offer crucial clarity about your legal options and guidance about the best next steps for you to take. Call today to set up a confidential meeting.