Last summer, a string of arsons in Superior, Colorado, occurred. In August and September 2018 there were five incidents that occurred including three fires in the North Torreys Peak and Castle Peak subdivisions. There were two other incidents a month later when someone poured accelerant on the staircase of a home in Castle Peak and lit a fire and then tried to break into a home on Shale Court. Now, authorities have arrested a 15-year-old boy in connection with this crime spree.

The teenager is a juvenile, so his name is not being released, but he turned himself into the Juvenile Assessment Center at the Boulder County Justice Center in mid-January. He faces four felony arson charges and one felony charge of burglary, four charges of felony criminal attempt and two misdemeanor charges.

Understanding the Crime of Arson

In the state of Colorado, arson charges are very serious charges with lifelong consequences and penalties. Punishment for arson depends largely on the degree and type of arson, and the value of the property. Felony arson of a building or an occupied structure, such as a home, is a serious offense and consequences can include:

• First Degree Arson

• • • 4-12 years in prison
    • 5 years mandatory parole
    • Fines up to $750,000
    • 10-32 years in prison if you use an explosive

• Second Degree, Third Degree, & Fourth Degree Arson

• • 2-6 years in prison
  • 3 years mandatory parole
  • Fines up to $500,000
  • For damage less than $100, misdemeanor offense
    • 3-12 months in jail
    • Fines up to $1,000

It is important to understand the severity of these charges, so that you can begin building a swift defense against them as soon as you are arrested. Your attorney will be able to review the evidence and the details that led to your arrest to help you avoid serious consequences. If you are charged with arson, your Colorado criminal defense attorney may be able to have the charges against you reduced. To do this, your attorney may need to establish that:

• The owner consented to the burning of the property
• You didn’t mean to cause the fire
• You are the owner of the property
• You didn’t mean to defraud anyone
• Fire did not damage a building
• No one was endangered
• Police misconduct occurred during arrest or investigation

Contact Our Boulder Criminal Defense Lawyers

If you’re charged with arson, theft, burglary, or any crime in Boulder, we can help you during this difficult time. Contact the Boulder criminal defense lawyers at Steven Louth Law Offices today for a free consultation and review of your case. Your future and your freedom are at stake. Call us at (303) 422-2297 to start building a solid defense against these serious criminal charges.