In a recent Colorado Springs case, a man held a gun to the head of another. In that moment, the suspect had all the power. No one could control what he did next.

While that is certainly true, the Colorado court system will now be responsible for deciding how the suspect spends the next several years of his life.

The crime of menacing

Our criminal justice system has a way of punishing people who resort to such threats. The crime is menacing and, depending on the circumstances, can be a misdemeanor or a felony.

• Class 3 Colorado misdemeanor| A person commits the crime of menacing if, by any threat or physical action, he or she knowingly places or attempts to place another person in fear of imminent serious bodily injury.
• Class 5 Colorado felony| Menacing becomes a felony if the threat or physical action includes displaying a deadly weapon, or any article made to look like a deadly weapon, or by making it appear they possess a deadly weapon.

Menacing case in Colorado Springs

In late August, the Colorado Springs man mentioned above was arrested and is facing potential menacing charges.

The news report states that the man fired a weapon inside a home and then ran outside. On the street, the suspect pointed the gun at a neighbor's head and pulled the trigger. Thankfully, the weapon did not fire.

Because the threat included a deadly weapon, the suspect faces felony menacing charges which could result in 1-3 years in prison and a fine that could range anywhere from $1,000 to $100,000. If convicted, he will also face a slew of consequences for being a convicted felon that will dictate much of his future.

In addition to the menacing charge, the suspect could have additional charges related to the events that happened prior to the gun shot.