A news story surrounding an 18-year-old girl wanting to marry her father grabbed my attention this morning and made me wonder if the media was exaggerating it. After 12 years of not seeing her father, the news story talks of a girl who was instantly attracted to her father when reunited with him. The 18-year-old also was said to have lost her virginity to her father after they had reunited. She was reportedly dating her father for two years, which led to conversations about having a large family with him after they married. If the news story is accurate, and if the girl and her father lived in Jefferson, Adams County, or anywhere else in Colorado, they would likely face charges of Incest, while the father could face charges of Aggravated Incest.

What is Incest in Arapahoe County and Across Colorado?

The definition of Incest, C.R.S 18-6-301 is:

 Any person who knowingly marries, inflicts sexual penetration or sexual intrusion on, or subjects to sexual contact on an ancestor or descendant, including a natural child, child by adoption, or stepchild twenty-one years of age or older, a brother or sister of the whole or half blood, or an uncle, aunt, nephew, or niece of the whole blood commits incest.

According to the news article, the young girl and her father had sex. If that's true, the two of them could face Incest charges. Incest is a class 4 felony, which results in 2-6 years in the Colorado Department of Corrections.

What is Aggravated Incest in Colorado?

The definition of Aggravated Incest, C.R.S 18-6-302, is:

A person commits aggravated incest when he or she knowingly:

• Marries his or her natural child or inflicts sexual penetration or sexual intrusion on or subjects to sexual contact, his or her natural child, stepchild, or child by adoption, but this does not apply to someone legally married to the stepchild or child by adoption. For the purpose of this section only, “child” means a person under twenty-one years of age; or
• Marries, inflicts sexual penetration or sexual intrusion on, or subjects to sexual contact, a descendant, a brother or sister of the whole or half blood, or an uncle, aunt, nephew, or niece of the whole blood who is under ten years of age.

The difference between Aggravated Incest and Incest has to do with the age of a person. If the young girl in the news story is truthfully under twenty-one years of age and if she's the natural child of her father, their sexual relationship would make it likely that the father would face Aggravated Incest charges. Aggravated Incest is a class 3 felony, which means anyone convicted could face 4-12 years in the Colorado Department of Corrections.

Denver Consequences of Incest and Aggravated Incest

Facing Incest charges? You need a criminal defense lawyer who will listen to your side of the story and be by your side to defend you.

Incest and Aggravated Incest are dealt with harshly in Colorado, specifically because of Colorado's indeterminate sentencing for sex crimes. Indeterminate sentencing means there is a possibility of a life-long prison term. Along with registering as a sex offender, someone convicted of Incest or Aggravated Incest would also likely be supervised under the Colorado Sex Offender Intensive Supervised Probation (SOISP). An offender's living and employment situations would be strictly monitored by the government under this supervision. This makes it difficult for people convicted of Incest and Aggravated Incest because they're unable to communicate with or be with their own children. This is heartbreaking. I think convicted sex offenders are often seen in an unfair way. The government thinks sex offenders are unable to be cured or will likely commit another crime. But, how can they think of people this way who had no malicious intent, or are wrongly accused? Because of the painful outcomes of Incest and Aggravated Incest in Denver and across Colorado, it's vital to have a criminal defense attorney who will listen to your side of the story. The sex crimes defense lawyers at the O'Malley Law Office strive to stand by the accused.

Why You Need the Best Criminal Defense Lawyers in Douglas County

We know Incest and Aggravated Incest are dealt with in a harsh manner, so we want to ensure your case is properly evaluated. It's always in your best interest to act early on. We want to encourage you not to lose hope if you are facing charges of Incest or Aggravated Incest—we have a passion for helping our clients secure a good future. If you have been charged with Incest or Aggravated Incest, contact one of the aggressive criminal defense attorneys at the O'Malley Law Office today.

Request a Free Consultation

If you are facing Incest or Aggravated Incest charges, be smart, exercise your right to remain silent, and call the experienced attorneys at the O'Malley Law Office at 303-830-0880. Together, we can protect your future.

Image Courtesy of sscreations / FreeDigitalPhotos.net