Damaging someone else’s property is charged as Criminal Mischief in Fort Collins and Larimer County. A man recently plead guilty in the Larimer County Court for the vandalism of the Islamic Center in Fort Collins. According to the news, the man was seen on surveillance video breaking the center’s windows and throwing a bible inside. Because of the religious aspect of the object he threw into the building, the vandalism was seen as a hate crime, and he was also charged with Bias-Motivated Crime for the property damage. The man will be sentenced in the new year for the felony Criminal Mischief conviction along with the conviction for misdemeanor Bias-Motivated Crime.
Larimer County Criminal Mischief Attorney: Definition of Criminal Mischief
The Larimer, Boulder, and Grand County, Colorado law definition of Criminal Mischief – C.R.S. 18-4-501 – is:
Criminal Mischief is charged like Theft, where the amount of damage or value of the items damaged determines the misdemeanor or felony level charge. Since the man was charged with a felony, the damage he caused must have been greater than $1,000.
Bias-Motivated Crimes: Vandalism in Fort Collins and Loveland
The Colorado law definition of Bias-Motivated Crimes as it relates to property damage in Fort Collins, Loveland, and Estes Park – C.R.S. 18-9-121(2)(c) – is:
(c) Knowingly causes damage to or destruction of the property of another person.
As a class 1 misdemeanor, Bias-Motivated Crimes for property damage is punishable by 6 to 18 months in the Larimer County Jail and up to $5,000 in fines.
If you or someone you love has been charged with Criminal Mischief or Bias-Motivated Crimes, be smart, exercise your right to remain silent, and contact the best criminal defense attorneys from the O’Malley Law Office at 970-658-0007 today. Together, we can protect your future.
Image Source: Pixabay-Pexels