Third degree assault (C.R.S. § 18-3-204) is Colorado’s least severe assault charge, a class 1 misdemeanor. It’s also designated an “extraordinary risk crime” under C.R.S. § 18-1.3-501(3), which raises its maximum jail exposure to 18 months rather than the standard 364-day cap for a class 1 misdemeanor, plus a fine of up to $1,000. It applies when someone knowingly or recklessly causes bodily injury to another person, without the aggravating factors, like a deadly weapon or serious bodily injury, that would push the charge up to second or first degree.
Where these cases actually get contested
Because the line between bodily injury and serious bodily injury, and between reckless and intentional conduct, drives so much of the charging decision, third-degree assault cases often turn on exactly how an injury is characterized in medical records and police reports.
What to do next
If you’re facing this in Colorado, call Mile High Legal at (720) 853-5779 for a free consultation. The earlier a defense attorney gets involved, the more options are usually still on the table.
