Colorado criminal charge
Criminal impersonation in Colorado
Criminal impersonation is a criminal offense under Colorado law, defined by C.R.S. § 18-5-113. Its classification is not fixed: Colorado assigns a different penalty class depending on the circumstances of the offense. The class that applies — and the sentencing range that follows from it — depends on which statutory variant fits the facts.
Defined by C.R.S. § 18-5-113.
What is the penalty for criminal impersonation in Colorado?
| Penalty | Range | Basis | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jail / prison | 12 months to 18 months (Criminal impersonation — confessing judgment or acknowledging written instrument, or performing act subjecting impersonated person to liability — Applies when the violation is under subsection (1)(a)(III) (confessing judgment or subscribing/verifying/publishing/acknowledging a recordable written instrument) or (1)(b)(I) (performing an act that, if done by the person impersonated, would subject that person to an action, proceeding, liability, charge, forfeiture, or penalty).) | presumptive | C.R.S. § 18-1.3-401 |
| Fine | 1000 usd to 100000 usd (Criminal impersonation — confessing judgment or acknowledging written instrument, or performing act subjecting impersonated person to liability — Applies when the violation is under subsection (1)(a)(III) (confessing judgment or subscribing/verifying/publishing/acknowledging a recordable written instrument) or (1)(b)(I) (performing an act that, if done by the person impersonated, would subject that person to an action, proceeding, liability, charge, forfeiture, or penalty).) | discretionary | C.R.S. § 18-1.3-401 |
| Parole / supervision | 1 years to 1 years (Criminal impersonation — confessing judgment or acknowledging written instrument, or performing act subjecting impersonated person to liability — Applies when the violation is under subsection (1)(a)(III) (confessing judgment or subscribing/verifying/publishing/acknowledging a recordable written instrument) or (1)(b)(I) (performing an act that, if done by the person impersonated, would subject that person to an action, proceeding, liability, charge, forfeiture, or penalty).; mandatory parole) | mandatory | C.R.S. § 18-1.3-401 |
| Jail / prison | 1 years to 3 years (Criminal impersonation — false marriage or acting as bail/surety — Applies when the violation is under subsection (1)(a)(I) (marrying or pretending to marry under a false identity) or (1)(a)(II) (becoming bail or surety under a false identity).) | presumptive | C.R.S. § 18-1.3-401 |
| Fine | 1000 usd to 100000 usd (Criminal impersonation — false marriage or acting as bail/surety — Applies when the violation is under subsection (1)(a)(I) (marrying or pretending to marry under a false identity) or (1)(a)(II) (becoming bail or surety under a false identity).) | discretionary | C.R.S. § 18-1.3-401 |
| Parole / supervision | 2 years to 2 years (Criminal impersonation — false marriage or acting as bail/surety — Applies when the violation is under subsection (1)(a)(I) (marrying or pretending to marry under a false identity) or (1)(a)(II) (becoming bail or surety under a false identity).; mandatory parole) | mandatory | C.R.S. § 18-1.3-401 |
| Jail / prison | up to 364 days (no statutory minimum) (Criminal impersonation — act that might subject impersonated person to liability — Applies when the violation is under subsection (1)(b)(II), performing an act that, if done by the person falsely impersonated, might subject that person to an action, proceeding, liability, charge, forfeiture, or penalty.) | discretionary | C.R.S. § 18-1.3-501 |
| Fine | up to 1000 usd (no statutory minimum) (Criminal impersonation — act that might subject impersonated person to liability — Applies when the violation is under subsection (1)(b)(II), performing an act that, if done by the person falsely impersonated, might subject that person to an action, proceeding, liability, charge, forfeiture, or penalty.) | discretionary | C.R.S. § 18-1.3-501 |
| Jail / prison | up to 120 days (no statutory minimum) (Criminal impersonation — act to gain benefit or injure/defraud another — Applies when the violation is under subsection (1)(b)(III), performing any act with intent to unlawfully gain a benefit for oneself or another or to injure or defraud another.) | discretionary | C.R.S. § 18-1.3-501 |
| Fine | up to 750 usd (no statutory minimum) (Criminal impersonation — act to gain benefit or injure/defraud another — Applies when the violation is under subsection (1)(b)(III), performing any act with intent to unlawfully gain a benefit for oneself or another or to injure or defraud another.) | discretionary | C.R.S. § 18-1.3-501 |
Applies to offenses on/after 2018-07-01.
How is criminal impersonation classified in Colorado?
The classification depends on the circumstances:
| Variant | Classification | When it applies | Statute |
|---|---|---|---|
| Criminal impersonation — confessing judgment or acknowledging written instrument, or performing act subjecting impersonated person to liability | class 6 felony | Applies when the violation is under subsection (1)(a)(III) (confessing judgment or subscribing/verifying/publishing/acknowledging a recordable written instrument) or (1)(b)(I) (performing an act that, if done by the person impersonated, would subject that person to an action, proceeding, liability, charge, forfeiture, or penalty). | 18-5-113(2)(a) |
| Criminal impersonation — false marriage or acting as bail/surety | class 5 felony | Applies when the violation is under subsection (1)(a)(I) (marrying or pretending to marry under a false identity) or (1)(a)(II) (becoming bail or surety under a false identity). | 18-5-113(2)(a.5) |
| Criminal impersonation — act that might subject impersonated person to liability | class 1 misdemeanor | Applies when the violation is under subsection (1)(b)(II), performing an act that, if done by the person falsely impersonated, might subject that person to an action, proceeding, liability, charge, forfeiture, or penalty. | 18-5-113(2)(b) |
| Criminal impersonation — act to gain benefit or injure/defraud another | class 2 misdemeanor | Applies when the violation is under subsection (1)(b)(III), performing any act with intent to unlawfully gain a benefit for oneself or another or to injure or defraud another. | 18-5-113(2)(c) |
Common questions about criminal impersonation in Colorado
Is criminal impersonation a felony or a misdemeanor in Colorado?
It depends on the circumstances: criminal impersonation ranges from a class 2 misdemeanor to a class 5 felony in Colorado under C.R.S. § 18-5-113.
Criminal impersonation — confessing judgment or acknowledging written instrument, or performing act subjecting impersonated person to liability: class 6 felony (C.R.S. § 18-5-113(2)(a)) · Criminal impersonation — false marriage or acting as bail/surety: class 5 felony (C.R.S. § 18-5-113(2)(a.5)) · Criminal impersonation — act that might subject impersonated person to liability: class 1 misdemeanor (C.R.S. § 18-5-113(2)(b)) · Criminal impersonation — act to gain benefit or injure/defraud another: class 2 misdemeanor (C.R.S. § 18-5-113(2)(c))
What are the penalties for criminal impersonation in Colorado?
Penalties for criminal impersonation in Colorado depend on how it is classified — from a class 2 misdemeanor up to a class 5 felony — with the ranges set by C.R.S. § 18-1.3-401 and C.R.S. § 18-1.3-501; the full table of ranges by variant is published on this page.
Which Colorado statute covers criminal impersonation?
Criminal impersonation is governed by C.R.S. § 18-5-113 (Criminal impersonation).
Legal terms used in this law
This reference is informational and is not legal advice. Penalty ranges are the statutory classification ranges; sentencing in a specific case depends on its facts and history.