In Denver, Mineral County and across Colorado, you can face criminal charges for providing shelter to a minor without consent, if you do not let the minor leave your care, prevent the minor from being taken into custody or fail to provide notice of where the child is located. This is known as Harboring a Minor, C.R.S. 18-6-601. In some cases, Harboring a Minor charges can accompany sex crime charges, such as Sexual Assault on a Child, Keeping a Place of Child Prostitution, Sexual Assault on a Child by One in a Position of Trust or Enticement of a Child. What may start as something intended to help, such as providing shelter for a runaway child, can end in serious consequences. If facing charges of Harboring a Minor in Colorado, contact the best sex crimes attorneys at the O'Malley Law Office today.

Harboring a Minor Lawyer in Arapahoe County | Lawyer Definition of Harboring a Minor in Jefferson County

In Arapahoe County, Jefferson County and everywhere else in Colorado, a person commits harboring a minor if they knowingly provide shelter to a minor without the consent of a parent, guardian, custodian of the minor, or the person with whom the child resides the majority of the time pursuant to a court order allocating parental responsibilities and if the person intentionally:

1. Fails to release the minor to police after being asked to;
2. Fails to disclose the location of the minor to police when asked to. The person must know the location of the minor and have taken the minor to that location or assisted the minor in reaching that location; or
3. Obstructs police from taking the minor into custody;
4. Assists the minor in avoiding or attempting to avoid custody of police; or
5. Fails to notify the parent, guardian, custodian of the minor, the person who the child lives with most of the time, or police that the minor is being sheltered within 24 hours after the shelter is provided.

If any type of sexual conduct occurs while the child is living with you or while you are responsible for the child's well-being, you also risk facing charges of certain sexual offenses. For example, Sexual Assault on a Child by One in a Position of Trust charges occur if you subject a child under 18 to any sexual contact when you're in a position of trust. Simply being a caretaker for a child while providing them shelter can qualify you as one in a position of trust, so be careful. You may also risk facing false sex crime allegations made by the child you provided shelter to. Under these Colorado laws, helping a child is dangerous business.  If facing any charges of Harboring a Minor or a sex offense involving a child in Colorado, involve an experienced criminal defense lawyer immediately.

Defenses to Harboring a Minor in Douglas County, Colorado

In Douglas County, Adams County and every other county of Colorado, there are various types of defenses available if accused of Harboring a Minor. For example, if the shelter provided is by a licensed child care facility, including a licensed homeless youth shelter, the minor can stay there up to two weeks after certain procedures are followed. In other cases, if you had custody of the minor or lawful parenting time with the minor pursuant to a court order, you will not face charges of Harboring a Minor. Finally, your actions of providing shelter may not be considered criminal if you felt they were necessary to avoid injury or harm to the child. The Choice of Evils affirmative defense could then apply. Contact an attorney for more details surrounding possible defenses to Harboring a Minor in Colorado.

Facing Harboring a Minor Charges in Denver? Call the O'Malley Law Office

If facing charges of Harboring a Minor in Denver, Englewood or anywhere else in Colorado, contact the best criminal defense lawyers at the O'Malley Law Office today. Like many other cases where people face charges of sexual offenses involving children, you may have just been trying to help or care for a child when providing shelter. Children who need shelter often make up false allegations of sexual assault in order to get what they want.  It does not take much to be falsely accused. Whatever the case, you cannot afford to fight any criminal charges of Harboring a Minor on your own. Call the O'Malley Law Office today to set up a free initial consultation and protect your freedom and future.

If facing Harboring a Minor charges in Colorado, be smart and remain silent. Then, call the best criminal defense lawyers at the O'Malley Law Office at 303-830-0880 for a free consultation of your case. Together, we can protect your future.

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