Understanding Colorado Mandatory Sentencing Violent Crimes 18-1.3-406

The use of the mandatory sentencing laws in Colorado by District Attorney’s is often unfair and immoral. These laws remove sentencing discretion from Colorado’s judges who are elected precisely for the purpose of deciding appropriate sentences on a case by case basis.

This article examines Colorado’s Mandatory Sentencing Law 18-1.3-406 as of 2014.

It has been my experience that the law should be “readable” and understandable by the person that is being prosecuted. In this article I will annotate the existing law and highlight the provisions that matter. Hopefully by reading the law it will become less frightening and more understandable to you.

§ 18-1.3-406. Mandatory Sentences For Violent Crimes. Colorado Statutes Title 18. Article 1.3. Sentencing in Criminal Cases Part 4. Sentences to Imprisonment § 18-1.3-406. Mandatory sentences for violent crimes

[ HMS this first section lays out the basic mandatory prison sentences if a person is convicted of a Colorado Crime of Violence.]

(1) (a) Any person convicted of a crime of violence shall be sentenced pursuant to the provisions of section 18-1.3-401(8) to the department of corrections for a term of incarceration of at least the midpoint in, but not more than twice the maximum of, the presumptive range provided for such offense in section 18-1.3-401(1) (a), as modified for an extraordinary risk crime pursuant to section 18-1.3-401(10), without suspension;

[ HMS The OUT Within this first paragraph almost hidden there is an EXCEPTION a workaround that gives a judge discretion to avoid the draconian nature of the mandatory sentencing scheme IF within 90 days the judge decides that the sentence is too harsh and the case is ‘exceptional and involves unusual and extenuating circumstances .]

(E)xcept that, within ninety-one days after he or she has been placed in the custody of the department of corrections, the department shall transmit to the sentencing court a report on the evaluation and diagnosis of the violent offender, and the court, in a case which it considers to be exceptional and to involve unusual and extenuating circumstances, may thereupon modify the sentence, effective not earlier than one hundred nineteen days after his or her placement in the custody of the department.

[ HMS If the sentencing judge modifies the sentence he or she has to file a report explaining “

the unusual and extenuating circumstances that justified such modification.” Modifications CAN include probation! ]

Such modification may include probation if the person is otherwise eligible therefor. Whenever a court finds that modification of a sentence is justified, the judge shall notify the state court administrator of his or her decision and shall advise said administrator of the unusual and extenuating circumstances that justified such modification. The state court administrator shall maintain a record, which shall be open to the public, summarizing all modifications of sentences and the grounds therefor for each judge of each district court in the state.

[ HMS The next section explains the mandatory “consecutive” or stacking clause of the statute that not only requires a prison sentence but if a person is convicted of TWO or MORE crimes of violence the judge is required to “stack” them one following the other.]

A person convicted of two or more separate crimes of violence arising out of the same incident shall be sentenced for such crimes so that sentences are served consecutively rather than concurrently. (b) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (a) of this subsection (1), any person convicted of a sex offense, as defined in section 18-1.3-1003(5) , committed on or after November 1, 1998, that constitutes a crime of violence shall be sentenced to the department of corrections for an indeterminate term of incarceration of at least the midpoint in the presumptive range specified in section 18-1.3-401(1) (a) (V) (A) up to a maximum of the person’s natural life, as provided in section 18-1.3-1004(1).

[HMS The following section defines the crimes of violence:]

(2) (a) (I) “Crime of violence” means any of the crimes specified in subparagraph (II) of this paragraph (a) committed, conspired to be committed, or attempted to be committed by a person during which, or in the immediate flight therefrom, the person:

(A) Used, or possessed and threatened the use of, a deadly weapon; or

(B) Caused serious bodily injury or death to any other person except another participant.

(II) Subparagraph (I) of this paragraph (a) applies to the following crimes:

1. Any crime against an at-risk adult or at-risk juvenile;
2. Murder;
3. First or second degree assault;
4. Kidnapping;
5. A sexual offense pursuant to part 4 of article 3 of this title;
6. Aggravated robbery;
7. First degree arson;
8. First degree burglary;
9. Escape;
10. Criminal extortion; or
11. First or second degree unlawful termination of pregnancy.

[ HMS There is a separate provision above and below for sex crimes .. They follow a statutory scheme that distinguishes them from other crimes of violence.. and this includes mandatory inderminate life sentences. LINK]

(b) (I) “Crime of violence” also means any unlawful sexual offense in which the defendant caused bodily injury to the victim or in which the defendant used threat, intimidation, or force against the victim. For purposes of this subparagraph (I), “unlawful sexual offense” shall have the same meaning as set forth in section 18-3-411(1) , and “bodily injury” shall have the same meaning as set forth in section 18-1-901(3) (c).

(II) The provisions of subparagraph (I) of this paragraph (b) shall apply only to felony unlawful sexual offenses.

(c) As used in this section, “at-risk adult” has the same meaning as set forth in section 18-6.5-102(2) , and “at-risk juvenile” has the same meaning as set forth in section 18-6.5-102(4) .

[HMS The following section applies to District Attorney’s who seek to file crimes of violence charges and requires the prosecutor to make the mandatory sentencing charges clear on the charging document known as the complaint and information.]

(3) In any case in which the accused is charged with a crime of violence as defined in subsection (2) (a) (I) of this section, the indictment or information shall so allege in a separate count, even though the use or threatened use of such deadly weapon or infliction of such serious bodily injury or death is not an essential element of the crime charged.

[ HMS These sections requires a jury to make a SPECIFIC FINDING at trial that the accused comes within the law requiring mandatory sentences.. .. the jury must find that a deadly weapon was used if that is charged or that serious bodily injury was suffered by the victim or that a threat, intimidation or force was used during the commission of the crime.]

(4) The jury, or the court if no jury trial is had, in any case as provided in subsection (3) of this section shall make a specific finding as to whether the accused did or did not use, or possessed and threatened to use, a deadly weapon during the commission of such crime or whether such serious bodily injury or death was caused by the accused . If the jury or court finds that the accused used, or possessed and threatened the use of, such deadly weapon or that such injury or death was caused by the accused, the penalty provisions of this section shall be applicable.

(5) In any case in which the accused is charged with a crime of violence as defined in subsection (2) (a) (II) of this section, the indictment or information shall so allege in a separate count, even though the use of threat, intimidation, or force or the infliction of bodily injury is not an essential element of the crime charged.

(6) The jury, or the court if no jury trial is had, in any case as provided in subsection (5) of this section shall make a specific finding as to whether the accused did or did not use threat, intimidation, or force during the commission of such crime or whether such bodily injury was caused by the accused . If the jury or court finds that the accused used threat, intimidation, or force or that such bodily injury was caused by the accused, the penalty provisions of this section shall be applicable.

[HMS the dangerous weapon TAG adds another FIVE YEARS to the underlying sentence which must run consecutive to the other sentence or sentences. This new law following on the heals of the Aurora Theatre Shooting is a kind of SPECIAL OFFENDER punishment if certain weapons are used such as semiautomatic assault weapons:]

(7) (a) In any case in which the accused is charged with a crime of violence as defined in this section and the indictment or information specifies the use of a dangerous weapon as defined in sections 18-12-101 and 18-12-102 , or the use of asemiautomatic assault weapon as defined in paragraph (b) of this subsection (7), upon conviction for said crime of violence, the judge shall impose an additional sentence to the department of corrections of five years for the use of such weapon.

The sentence of five years shall be in addition to the mandatory sentence imposed for the substantive offense and shall be served consecutively to any other sentence and shall not be subject to suspension or probation.

(b) For the purposes of this subsection (7), “semiautomatic assault weapon” means any semiautomatic center fire firearm that is equipped with a detachable magazine with a capacity of twenty or more rounds of ammunition. applies to specified time intervals.

(3) Section 9 of chapter 372, Session Laws of Colorado 2013, provides that the act amending subsections (2)(a)(II)(I) and (2)(a)(II)(J) and adding subsection (2)(a)(II)(K) applies to offenses committed on or after July 1, 2013.

Some Important Interpretations and Explanations About the Application of Colorado’s Mandatory Sentencing Law Reconsideration Under The 90 Exception Provision

Warning you can seekONLY ONE RECONSIDERATION under subsection (1) above after the DOC diagnostic report is received after a defendant gas been placed in the Department of Corrections.

More Than One Crime of Violence Conviction Consecutive Sentences

If a defendant is convicted of “separate” crimes of violence based on “different evidence,” sentencing judge must impose consecutive (stacked) not concurrent, sentences. The evidence supporting the convictions cannot be “identical.” If the evidence supporting the convictions is identical, the sentences must run concurrently (at the same time).

Understanding Felony Crime Sentencing in Colorado

The state of Colorado has 6 possible felony sentences. The are 1 through 6:

Here is a comprehensive chart to help you understand the felony criminal sentencing scheme:

There is a “presumptive” (normal) sentencing range for each class of felony, BUT the court can find extraordinary mitigating or aggravating circumstances exist” and alter the sentence accordingly.

If a sentencing judge finds “mitigating circumstances,” the judge can reduce the lower end of the presumptive sentence to as much as one-half the minimum sentence in that presumptive range. On the other hand if a sentencing court finds “aggravating circumstances,” the judge can impose a sentence of not more than twice the maximum in the presumptive range. Both of these situations are rare.

Aggravators are of Two General Types

1. Aggravators can relate to the way the crime was committed such as the crimes of violence where a defendant is alleged to have used a weapon or caused serious injury or death in the commission of the enumerated crimes above under the “mandatory sentences for violent crimes” statute, CRS § 18-1.3-406 or
2. “Other aggravating circumstances”relating to the specific circumstances surrounding the commission of the crime, or such things as a defendants prior record. This type of “aggravator” is not defined.. A judge sentencing under this kind of aggravation has to make specific “findings” justifying going outside the normal range of sentence.

The Per Se Crimes of Violence Under Colorado Law

Certain crimes of violence a re considered “per se” crimes of violence. They do not require a finding of the use of a deadly weapon or serious bodily injury. If you are convicted of a “per se” crime of violence you must be sentenced to DOC (prison) from at least the midpoint of the presumptive range up to twice the maximum of the presumptive range.

Examples of per se crimes of violence include second degree murder, first and second degree assault under some circumstances, second degree kidnapping under some circumstances, and aggravated robbery.

The Extraordinary Aggravating Factors Under of 18-1.3-401(8)(a)

Colorado law provides for certain “extraordinary aggravating factors” that also limit the court’s discretion in handing down a fair sentence.

If a sentence to DOC is imposed and if ANY of the following factors exist in the case the sentencing judge MUST impose a sentence that is at least the midpoint of the presumptive range up to twice the maximum in the presumptive range.

Remember the judge must decide initially to impose DOC (prison) before the judge must sentence in these enhanced ranges. In other words in the absence of a mandatory DOC sentence as described above a judge can still grant probation notwithstanding these factors:

The Extraordinary Factors Under 18-1.3-401 (8)(a) are:

1. The defendant was on parole for another felony at the time of commission of the felony;
2. The defendant was on probation or was on bond while awaiting sentencing following revocation of probation for another felony at the time of the commission of the felony;
3. The defendant was under confinement, in prison, or in any correctional institution as a convicted felon, or an escapee from any correctional institution for another felony at the time of the commission of a felony;
4. At the time of the commission of the felony, the defendant was on appeal bond following his or her conviction for a previous felony;
5. At the time of the commission of a felony, the defendant was on probation for or on bond while awaiting sentencing following revocation of probation for a delinquent act that would have constituted a felony if committed by an adult.

Understanding Colorado Mandatory Sentencing Violent Crimes 18-1.3-406 Is There a Way Out?

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About The Author: H. Michael Steinberg Email The Author at hmsteinberg@hotmail.com. A Denver Colorado Criminal Defense Lawyer or call his office at 303-627-7777 during business hours or call his cell if you cannot wait and need his immediate assistance 720-220-2277.

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