Juveniles in Norwood, San Miguel County (of the 7th Judicial District, which also includes Ouray, Montrose, Gunnison, and Hinsdale counties), Colorado are accused of Sexual Assault on a Child (CRS 18-3-405) after an incident at a state wrestling tournament that took place in Denver in February. The accusations are dividing the small community of Norwood, which has a population of about 450 people, much smaller than many cities in counties like Denver, Jefferson, Arapahoe, Adams, Douglas, Larimer, or Weld. Police are wondering if the administrators at the school mishandled the information about the abuse by not reporting it to the police as they are legally bound to do.

Police are citing the Colorado Mandatory Reporting Requirements Regarding Children that applies to cities all around Colorado like Aurora, Littleton, Castle Rock, Colorado Springs, and Grand Junction. It requires that people with certain occupations are obligated to report known child abuse or suspected child abuse. There is a complete list under the Colorado Revised Statue 19-3-304 that shows all mandatory reporter occupations where people are required by law to report cases of child abuse. The list includes all physicians, workers in a day care, firefighters, and any private or public school employees among many other occupations. The Denver District Attorney is trying to decide if any adult was guilty of a criminal action by failing to report immediately after the incident happened.

Sexual Assault Charges are handled very seriously in Colorado, and perhaps the parents and teachers involved in this case did not want the boys involved to have deal with the possible consequences of jail or having to register as a sex offender for committing a sex crime like Internet Sexual Exploitation of a Child (CRS 18-3-405.4), Sexual Assault on a Child (CRS 18-3-405) or Unlawful Sexual Contact (CRS 18-3-404). But now, they might be facing criminal charges themselves.

If you suspect that a child may be abused and are unsure if you have a mandatory duty to report it, be smart, exercise your right to remain silent, and contact the experienced criminal defense attorneys at the O'Malley Law Office at 303-830-0880. Together, we can protect your future.