Title: Menacing in Colorado
Headings: Menacing in Colorado
Menacing in Colorado
Content: Menacing can be charged as a Class Three Misdemeanor (M3), or as a Class Five Felony (F5) in Colorado. It becomes a felony when it involves the use of a Deadly Weapon. It does not matter if the weapon is real. You can commit menacing with a toy gun, if you handle it in such a way that you make the person believe it is real. You do not have to point the weapon (real or not) at someone to be found guilty, simply holding it "in a manner that causes the other person to fear for his safety" will suffice. You can also be charged with Menacing with a Deadly Weapon even if you do not have a weapon! Simply telling someone that you are armed may result in a Menacing charge. Believe it or not, it is not even necessary for the person to be aware of the threat! You can be found guilty of menacing a sleeping person. The District Attorney would have to prove that you knew that your actions, if discovered (if the person woke up), would place the person in fear.