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Mistake of Law
The MPC makes clear that a mistake of fact or law is a defense if it negates the mens rea required by statute. While Colorado law isn't so explicit (Mistake statute) the intent of the legislature seems quite clearly to allow mistake defenses under those circumstances that the MPC would.
When dealing with mistake of law defenses, it is important to think clearly about exactly what it is that the statute prohibits. Only then can we know whether a mistake provides a defense. This is complicated by the fact that some statutes are not entirely explicit about what they prohibit.
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