A man was arrested in Boulder County after sending envelopes filled with white powder to Jewish community centers. While the powder was determined to be corn starch or flour, both the FBI and Boulder Police Department investigated the suspicious mailing and had the substance analyzed by the Colorado Department of Health. The man was linked to the envelopes through forensic evidence and was arrested for Felony Menacing and Explosive Hoax.
What is Menacing in Larimer County?
C.R.S. 18-3-206 – Menacing – is defined by Colorado law as:
(a) By the use of a deadly weapon or any article used or fashioned in a manner to cause a person to reasonably believe that the article is a deadly weapon; or
(b) By the person representing verbally or otherwise that he or she is armed with a deadly weapon.
The white powder must have elicited fear that it was a harmful substance capable of causing serious bodily injury. Because it was a substance that caused people to reasonably believe it could cause injuries, the substance is considered a deadly weapon. This means the man would be charged with Felony Menacing. As a class 5 felony in Larimer, Boulder, and Grand County, this crime is punishable with 1 to 3 years in the Colorado Department of Corrections.
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Flour in the Mail: What is Explosive Hoax in Fort Collins?
Colorado law defines C.R.S. 18-12-109 – Possession, use, or removal of explosives or incendiary devices – hoaxes – as:
Even though the white powder only turned out to be flour, it was mailed to the Jewish community centers without being identified, so it was assumed to be a dangerous substance. In Fort Collins, Loveland, and Estes Park, this crime is another class 5 felony. That means the man could face up to 6 years in the Colorado Department of Corrections if he is convicted on both charges.