Burglary and DNA Testing in Fort Collins | Who Leaves Soiled Shorts Behind?

Learn more about DNA samples in misdemeanor and felony cases in Colorado.
Learn more about DNA samples in misdemeanor and felony cases in Colorado.
Image Credit: Pixabay – OpenClipartVectors

When crime scene investigators are at the scene of a crime, they look for any and all clues to help lead them to a suspect. DNA often plays a role in these investigations and now that anyone convicted of a felony or certain misdemeanors has to provide a DNA sample, it makes identifying a suspect easier than ever. One suspect found that out the hard way. What was his fatal mistake? He left a pair of short with fecal matter for law enforcement to find and test. The man had been previously arrested and required to give a DNA sample. When that sample was used to compare to the soiled shorts, the man was linked to the Burglary of a preschool and church that happened last year. I guess the only question I am left with is: why would anyone be carrying around a pair of soiled shorts?

2nd Degree Burglary in Larimer County

The Colorado law definition of Second Degree Burglary – C.R.S. 18-4-203 – is:

A person commits second degree burglary, if the person knowingly breaks an entrance into, enters unlawfully in, or remains unlawfully after a lawful or unlawful entry in a building or occupied structure with intent to commit therein a crime against another person or property.

Because the man broke into the church and preschool to commit another crime, in this case Theft, he was charged with Burglary in the Second Degree. As a class 4 felony in Larimer, Boulder, and Jackson County, this crime is punishable by 2 to 6 years in the Colorado Department of Corrections and up to $500,000 in fines.

[pullquote align=”center” textalign=”center” width=”95%”]Have you been charged with Burglary? Contact the experienced attorneys from the O’Malley Law Office to defend you today![/pullquote]

DNA Samples in Misdemeanor and Felony Cases in Loveland

Currently, any person arrested for a felony charge is required to submit a saliva sample. The samples are stored in a national DNA database so they can be cross-referenced with unsolved crimes and held for the future. At this point in time, the only misdemeanor charge that requires the accused provide a saliva sample is Unlawful Sexual Contact. This may change soon though, as there is a proposed House Bill that would require a DNA sample from a person convicted of:

It’s a scary thought that the government may be able to hold on to a person’s genetic material for an indefinite amount of time, but it’s just one more instance of Big Brother.

If you or someone you love has been charged with Burglary in Fort Collins, Loveland, or Estes Park, be smart, exercise your right to remain silent, and contact the best criminal defense attorneys from the O’Malley Law Office at (970) 658-0007 today. Together, we can protect your future.