What IS Fourth Degree Arson?

• Fourth Degree Arson is when a person knowingly or recklessly starts or maintains a fire, or causes an explosion, on any property where the actions put another person in danger of death or serious bodily injury.

• Fourth Degree Arson can also be charged for a situation where a person starts or maintains a fire or causes an explosion which places any building or occupied structure belonging to another in jeopardy of being damaged.

• The level of penalty for Fourth Degree Arson depends upon the value of the structure put in danger, and can range from a petty offense all the way up to a Class 2 Felony.

C.R.S. 18-4-105 - Fourth Degree Arson

(1) A person who knowingly or recklessly starts or maintains a fire or causes an explosion, on his own property or that of another, and by so doing places another in danger of death or serious bodily injury or places any building or occupied structure of another in danger of damage commits fourth degree arson.

(2) Fourth degree arson is a class 4 felony if a person is thus endangered.

(3) Fourth degree arson is:

(a) A petty offense if only property is thus endangered and the value of the property is less than three hundred dollars;

(b) A class 2 misdemeanor if only property is thus endangered and the value of the property is three hundred dollars or more but less than one thousand dollars;

(c) A class 1 misdemeanor if only property is thus endangered and the value of the property is one thousand dollars or more but less than two thousand dollars;

(d) A class 6 felony if only property is thus endangered and the value of the property is two thousand dollars or more but less than five thousand dollars;

(e) A class 5 felony if only property is thus endangered and the value of the property is five thousand dollars or more but less than twenty thousand dollars;

(f) A class 4 felony if only property is thus endangered and the value of the property is twenty thousand dollars or more but less than one hundred thousand dollars;

(g) A class 3 felony if only property is thus endangered and the value of the property is one hundred thousand dollars or more but less than one million dollars; and

(h) A class 2 felony if only property is thus endangered and the value of the property is one million dollars or more.