Colorado criminal charge
Telecommunications crime in Colorado
Current through 2026 Colorado legislative session
Telecommunications crime is a criminal offense under Colorado law, defined by C.R.S. § 18-9-309. 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. § 18-9-309.
What is the penalty for telecommunications crime in Colorado?
| Penalty | Range | Basis | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jail / prison | 2 years to 6 years (Using cloning equipment to create a cloned cellular phone (felony provision cross-reference) — A person who knowingly uses cloning equipment to create a cloned cellular phone commits a class 4 felony as provided in subsection (4), rather than the civil infraction otherwise applicable under (2)(b).) | presumptive | C.R.S. § 18-1.3-401 |
| Fine | 2000 usd to 500000 usd (Using cloning equipment to create a cloned cellular phone (felony provision cross-reference) — A person who knowingly uses cloning equipment to create a cloned cellular phone commits a class 4 felony as provided in subsection (4), rather than the civil infraction otherwise applicable under (2)(b).) | discretionary | C.R.S. § 18-1.3-401 |
| Parole / supervision | 3 years to 3 years (Using cloning equipment to create a cloned cellular phone (felony provision cross-reference) — A person who knowingly uses cloning equipment to create a cloned cellular phone commits a class 4 felony as provided in subsection (4), rather than the civil infraction otherwise applicable under (2)(b).; mandatory parole) | mandatory | C.R.S. § 18-1.3-401 |
| Jail / prison | up to 120 days (no statutory minimum) (Using cloning equipment to intercept signals or create a cloned cellular phone — A person knowingly uses cloning equipment to intercept telecommunications signals or to create a cloned cellular phone.) | discretionary | C.R.S. § 18-1.3-501 |
| Fine | up to 750 usd (no statutory minimum) (Using cloning equipment to intercept signals or create a cloned cellular phone — A person knowingly uses cloning equipment to intercept telecommunications signals or to create a cloned cellular phone.) | discretionary | C.R.S. § 18-1.3-501 |
| Jail / prison | up to 120 days (no statutory minimum) (Aiding, abetting, advising, or encouraging cloning equipment offenses — A person aids, abets, advises, or encourages another person who engages in the cloning equipment activities described in subsection (4)(a).) | discretionary | C.R.S. § 18-1.3-501 |
| Fine | up to 750 usd (no statutory minimum) (Aiding, abetting, advising, or encouraging cloning equipment offenses — A person aids, abets, advises, or encourages another person who engages in the cloning equipment activities described in subsection (4)(a).) | discretionary | C.R.S. § 18-1.3-501 |
Applies to offenses on/after 2018-07-01.
How is telecommunications crime classified in Colorado?
The classification depends on the circumstances:
| Variant | Classification | When it applies | Statute |
|---|---|---|---|
| Using cloning equipment to create a cloned cellular phone (felony provision cross-reference) | class 4 felony | A person who knowingly uses cloning equipment to create a cloned cellular phone commits a class 4 felony as provided in subsection (4), rather than the civil infraction otherwise applicable under (2)(b). | 18-9-309(2)(b) |
| Using cloning equipment to intercept signals or create a cloned cellular phone | class 2 misdemeanor | A person knowingly uses cloning equipment to intercept telecommunications signals or to create a cloned cellular phone. | 18-9-309(4)(a) |
| Aiding, abetting, advising, or encouraging cloning equipment offenses | class 2 misdemeanor | A person aids, abets, advises, or encourages another person who engages in the cloning equipment activities described in subsection (4)(a). | 18-9-309(4)(b) |
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.