If you are facing Criminal Mischief charges at the Larimer County Courts, hiring a top Fort Collins criminal defense lawyer is essential. Criminal Mischief is charged any time a person knowingly damages another person’s property. This crime can often be charged as a misdemeanor, but can quickly become a felony if the property damage is $2,000 or more. Below, our top criminal defense attorneys discuss:
1. Definition of Criminal Mischief, C.R.S. 18-4-501 at the Larimer County Courts in Colorado
The definition of Criminal Mischief, C.R.S. 18-4-501, as used at the Larimer County Courts in Colorado, is as follows:
Essentially, Criminal Mischief is charged when a person knowingly causes damage to another person’s property. This also includes any property that belongs to both the person and other people.
2. Loveland Examples of Criminal Mischief charges
In Loveland and Estes Park, some examples of actions that would result in Criminal Mischief charges can include:
- Acts of vandalism, such as graffiti / tagging
- Keying another person’s car or slashing their tires
- Digging up your neighbor’s plants
- Punching a hole in a wall while at your friend’s house
- Breaking a door in your home that you own with your wife after slamming it in anger — this would also likely be charged as an act of Domestic Violence
Any act of knowingly damaging another person’s property can result in being criminally charged with Criminal Mischief in Colorado.
3. Defenses to Criminal Mischief Charges in Fort Collins
The good news is that there are several viable defenses to Criminal Mischief charges in Fort Collins. A few of them are:
- You were falsely accused.
- The property that was damaged belongs to only you and no one else.
- You accidentally caused the property damage. For Criminal Mischief to be charged, you must have damaged property “knowingly.” A reckless or criminally negligent state of mind – that is, accidentally causing damage – is not part of Colorado’s Criminal Mischief law.
A top Fort Collins criminal defense lawyer will have an arsenal of other defenses that can be successfully used at the Larimer County Courts.
4. What are the Penalties for Criminal Mischief in Larimer County?
Penalties for a conviction of Criminal Mischief charges in Larimer County depend on the total value of property that was damaged. See the table below:
| Dollar Amount of Property Damaged | Crime Classification | Possible Penalties |
| $299 or less | Petty offense |
|
| $300 – $1,999 | Misdemeanor |
|
| $2,000 or more | Felony |
|
If you are convicted of your charges, you will also be required to pay restitution to cover the monetary loss for any property that you damaged.
Have you been charged with Criminal Mischief? A top criminal defense lawyer can represent you and help you avoid penalties you don’t deserve, including Larimer County Jail time. Call the best criminal defense attorneys at the O’Malley Law Office today at 970-658-0007 to discuss your case. Together, we can protect your future.
The location for the Larimer County Courthouse is 201 Laporte Avenue, Fort Collins, Colorado. We’ll see you there!
Photo by Jeswin Thomas