Criminal mischief sounds like something that teenagers get into before they know better. It may be against the law, but mostly harmless, and certainly no big deal. Nothing could be further from the truth. While it is true that the least serious of charges possible under the Texas criminal mischief statute is a minor crime, the law covers a lot of ground. The most serious criminal mischief offense is serious indeed. Some criminal mischief charges cover the kind of behavior typical of boisterous or rebellious teens, but others go far beyond youthful mischief and can result in felony charges.
Criminal Mischief Charges Only Sound Minor
The simplest description of criminal mischief is that it is a crime against property. It can range from relatively minor property crimes such as vandalism or graffiti all the way up to more serious acts, such as tampering with a utility service meter or killing livestock. A charge of criminal mischief requires only that a person, without the consent of the property owner, knowingly or intentionally destroys or damages some tangible property owned by another person, causing financial loss or “substantial inconvenience” to the owner or a third person. Charges for criminal mischief can run almost the entire spectrum of Texas crimes, with the level of the charge depending upon the amount of damage and type of property involved. Those charges can consist of:
- A Class C misdemeanor if the damages is less than $100
- A Class B misdemeanor if the loss is $100 or more, but less than $750
- A Class A misdemeanor if the damage amounts to $750 but less than $2,500, or if the property damage involves interrupting or diverting any public water supply
It gets worse from there, with charges rising to felony level, including:
- A state jail felony for damage of $2,500 up to less than $30,000, or even for damage less than $2,500 under certain circumstances
- A third-degree felony for damage of at least $30,000 but less than $150,000, or if you cause the death of at least one head of cattle, bison, or a horse, regardless of value
- A second-degree felony for damage of $150,000 but under $300,000, and
- A first-degree felony if damages amount to $300,000 or more.
Punishments can range from a fine of no more than $500 for a Class C misdemeanor to a fine of up to $4,000 and up to a year in jail for a Class A misdemeanor. A state jail felony carries a penalty of at least 180 days but no more than two years in jail and a fine of up to $10,000, while a first-degree felony is punishable by at least five years in prison but up to 99 years, as well as a fine of up to $10,000.
If You are Charged With Criminal Mischief, Talk to Madrid Law Firm
Criminal mischief is not a teenager’s crime. It covers a lot of ground and can be a serious charge. Depending upon the circumstances of the charges, a conviction for criminal mischief could be a relatively minor annoyance that costs you $500, or it could be a life-changing event that lands you in jail for months or even in prison for years. If there is any chance you could be facing the more serious kinds of criminal mischief charges, you need to contact The Madrid Law Firm for experienced criminal defense.
