Colorado's Harsh Penalties for Sex Crime Convictions

Punishment for sex crimes in Colorado are very strict, and could force those convicted to spend the rest of their life behind bars.

2011-08-27

August 27, 2011 (Press-News.org) There are few things as eye-opening as being charged with a crime. Just knowing that you could be facing prison time can be a scary thought to someone who has no experience with the criminal justice system. Not knowing what to do next or where to turn can leave a person completely unprepared to protect their rights.

But not all crimes are created equal, as certain charges by their very nature carry serious potential consequences. Most sex crimes fit into this category, as the Colorado legislature has created very specific sentences that must be imposed if someone is found guilty, especially if the victim is a child.

Conviction Results in Minimum of Ten Years Behind Bars

Travis Masse was recently sentenced after being convicted of sexual assault on a child "pattern of behavior," meaning it happened more than once, and sexual assault on a child by someone in a position of trust. He was a teacher and wrestling coach at an area high school, and was found to have been having sexual relationships with underage girls at the school. The investigation also uncovered evidence of sexting, with both Masse and one of the victims texting nude pictures to one another.

When the sentence was announced, Masse received a sentence of at least 10 years in the department of corrections (state prison), and if he is ever paroled, he would remain on parole for the rest of his natural life. If at the end of the initial ten-year sentence, officials determine that he has not been fully "rehabilitated", they may keep Masse in prison until they feel he is not likely to reoffend, or for the rest of his natural life, whatever happens sooner.

Possibility of Life in Prison

In Colorado, sex crimes are broken down into specific classes, depending upon the level of seriousness. Each class carries a specific minimum sentence. In most other crimes, there will be a mandatory release date tied to whatever sentence that is handed down, but that is not the case with most felony sex crimes. Those convicted of sex crimes will be required to serve the entire minimum sentence that they receive to start, but then may end up serving for the rest of their life as well. In other words, most felony sex crimes have a definite minimum punishment, but are not limited to what a possible maximum punishment may be. They can go on and on and on for life.

After the offender has served the required minimum length of his or her sentence, it will be up to the parole board to determine if the offender still presents a danger to society. The board will examine the offender's progress in treatment, as well as the offender's likelihood of reoffending. If there is any potential question about whether or not the offender has been rehabilitated, officials are to err on the side of caution and refuse to grant parole.

More often than not, the offender is required to serve more time because parole is denied. When this happens, the board reviews the case once every three years to check for progress. This cycle can repeat itself as many times as the parole board deems necessary, meaning that the offender may spend life in prison.

It could be very difficult, if not impossible, for an offender to gain parole due to the negative implications of being convicted of a sex crime. Officials are under great pressure to be absolutely positive that there is no chance a sex offender will commit another sex crime before the board can sign off on a release, which is a chance many are unwilling to take. Even if all treatment has been completed, the board may still refuse parole.

Even though there is a system in place if parole is granted, there are still very strict requirements in place for a parolee. If convicted of a class 2, class 3, or class 4 felony sex crime, offenders will be on a supervised parole period for the rest of their natural life upon being released from prison. That is, if they are ever released from prison.

After release, those convicted will need to register as a sex offender. They will be required to notify law enforcement whenever they move. Finding employment could also be very challenging, as employers will be reluctant to take a chance on someone who has been convicted of such a serious crime.

What to do if You Have Been Accused of a Sex Crime

Do not talk to the police. Law enforcement officials are focused on proving their case, and they are speaking to you for a very specific reason. If you suspect you are being investigated, do not think you can talk yourself out of trouble. Police will use anything you say against you if you are eventually charged. They want you to talk; to do their job for them.

If you have been accused of a sex crime, you need to take the accusations very seriously. A conviction could leave you facing serious prison time, and will also make it extremely difficult for you to move forward after being released. Contact an experienced criminal defense attorney in your area to understand how to best defend yourself against these charges.

Article provided by Shazam Kianpour & Associates, P.C.
Visit us at www.shazamlaw.com

ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

Lower socioeconomic status linked with heart disease despite improvements in other risk factor

2011-08-27

(SACRAMENTO, Calif.) — People with lower socioeconomic status are much more likely to develop heart disease than those who are wealthier or better educated, according to a recent UC Davis study. Published online in BMC Cardiovascular Disorders, the outcomes also show that this risk persists even with long-term progress in addressing traditional risk factors such as smoking, high blood pressure and elevated cholesterol. "Being poor or having less than a high school education can be regarded as an extra risk when assessing a patient's chances of developing cardiovascular ...

New study shows that Florida's reefs cannot endure a 'cold snap'

2011-08-27

Miami — August 26, 2011 — Remember frozen iguanas falling from trees during Florida's 2010 record-breaking cold snap? Well, a new study led by scientists at the University of Miami (UM) Rosenstiel School of Marine & Atmospheric Science shows that Florida's corals also dropped in numbers due to the cold conditions. "It was a major setback," said Diego Lirman, associate professor at the UM Rosenstiel School and lead author of the study. "Centuries-old coral colonies were lost in a matter of days." The chilly January temperatures caused the most catastrophic loss of corals ...

Crime Lab Shutdown Could Have Major Impact on DWI Cases

2011-08-27

The problems experienced by the Nassau County crime lab have been well-publicized. Evidence tested by the lab has been found to be unreliable due to a lapse in protocol. Now, many cases are starting to go through the courts in an effort to determine if some individuals have been wrongly convicted. Many of these cases concern drug crimes or DWI matters that went to trial. Technicians at the lab were found to have not followed basic crime lab procedures, meaning that either samples or equipment may have been contaminated in drug cases. For those who were convicted of driving ...

Child's Legal Father, a Sex Offender, and Grandmother Fight for Custody

2011-08-27

Case is Complicated by Biological Father, Who Also Now Wants Custody of Young Girl Child custody issues are possibly some of the most contentious cases in family law. As couples dissolve relationships, conflict over influence and contact with their adopted, step and biological children can become a new battleground. A prime example is the case of little Miranda Wilkerson, where the battle is between Miranda's grandmother and her legal father, who is a registered sex offender, and her biological father, who was not married to Miranda's mother at the time of birth. In ...

Notre Dame researcher studying Hurricane Irene's storm surge

2011-08-27

While a great number of people are preparing to evacuate in the face of Hurricane Irene, Andrew Kennedy, a researcher in the University of Notre Dame Department of Civil Engineering and Geological Sciences, rushed to the outer banks of North Carolina yesterday in anticipation of its arrival. Kennedy, a member of Notre Dame's Hydraulic Computation Research Group, is on a helicopter rapidly deploying wave and surge gauges for data collection in conjunction with Irene. "Irene looks likely to have large impacts in North Carolina and I am at the outer banks to deploy wave/surge ...

MyPhillyLawyer Negotiates Resignation of Embattled Philadelphia Schools Superintendent Arlene Ackerman

2011-08-27

Embattled Philadelphia Schools Superintendent Arlene C. Ackerman formally resigned her post today in a contract settlement negotiated by the legal team at MyPhillyLawyer. Behind the scenes over the last month, the lawyers of MyPhillyLawyer represented Ackerman throughout the process, ensuring that the terms of her employment contract and compensation were fully met and that the school system would be able to move on with new leadership in an orderly transition. Under the agreement, Ackerman will receive a $905,000 settlement to end her employment contract with the school ...

When it comes to pursuing your goals, let you unconscious be your guide

2011-08-27

A new University of Alberta study says when it comes to goal setting, your unconscious mind can be a great motivator. Alberta School of Business researcher Sarah Moore and colleagues from Duke and Cornell universities say that unconscious feelings about objects in the environment influence the pursuit of long-term goals. Their study explores how the unconscious mind responds to objects in relation to an individual's goals—and how the unconscious continues to influence feelings about these objects once the goals are reached—whether or not the outcome has been successful. ...

Rare immune cell is asset and liability in fighting infection

2011-08-27

The same trait that makes a rare immune cell invaluable in fighting some infections also can be exploited by other diseases to cause harm, two new studies show. In papers published online in Immunity, scientists at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis reveal that the cells, known as CD8 alpha+ dendritic cells (CD8a+ DCs), can help the body beat back infection by a common parasite, but the same cells can be hijacked by a bacterium to decimate the body's defenses. The trait that makes the cells both an asset and a liability is the way they alert other ...

Dozing While Driving: Too Many American Drivers Asleep at the Wheel

2011-08-27

In a recent study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly five percent of drivers admitted that they had nodded off at the wheel at least once during the past month. The actual number may be even higher than that. In a 2005 poll conducted by the National Sleep Foundation, more than a third of all adult drivers acknowledged falling asleep at the wheel in the past year. Another 13 percent reported having done so regularly -- at least once a month. One result of all this dozing while driving is car accidents caused by fatigued driving. The ...

White Collar Federal Fraud Crimes: High Sentences Making Headlines

2011-08-27

Names like Bernie Madoff, Lee Farkas, Jeffrey Skilling and Raj Rajaratnam have gained household recognition in the United States, held up as examples of financial excess and criminal culpability. The U.S. Department of Justice and Federal Bureau of Investigation have affirmed their priorities in pursuing alleged perpetrators of securities fraud, health care fraud and bank fraud in response to recent economic struggles nationwide. On the other end of those prosecutions, federal judges are imposing harsh sentences for white collar crimes. A strong sense that the public ...