Category: Stalking

Perhaps you’ve heard of someone who has been charged with domestic violence. It’s not unusual for a person to refer to any crime involving domestic violence as just that, but doing so ignores the nuance and complexity of the law.

The truth is that, in Colorado, domestic violence is an enhancement to another crime, not a crime all on its own. There are many crimes that can have domestic violence

 

Some attention can feel flattering, even when it’s unsolicited. However, there’s a point where unwanted attention begins to feel threatening. This is commonly referred to as stalking.

 

Colorado has tougher stalking sentencing and penalties than many other states. These laws have been put into place to protect stalking victims from serious bodily harm or death, and a stalking conviction has severe criminal consequences.

 

Below, we’re going to

 

Have you heard the story?

 

Vonnie Flores was stalked by her neighbor, Anthony Medina, for five years.

 

Medina would follow Flores when she rode her bike, went for a walk, or went to the store. He made inappropriate advances towards her, and told her he wanted to be in a relationship. Flores’s husband built an 8-foot fence between their homes, but it did little to stop Medina.

 

The way that Colorado handles stalking and harassment is a little bit strange.

 

On the one hand, if you are charged with stalking, it technically falls under the umbrella of harassment according to the law. In other words, stalking is a way of harassing someone.

 

That makes sense, right?

 

Unfortunately, that little legal oddity makes many people believe that these two crimes come with the same

 

When Colorado police respond to a domestic violence call, and have probable cause to believe it has occurred, it is mandatory for them to make an arrest – regardless of whether the alleged victim denies any violence has occurred.

 

In these cases, it is the state pressing charges, not the victim.

 

However, there are a handful of scenarios which are even out of the state’s hands. In