Criminal Mischief is charged in Fort Collins and Loveland when a person is accused of causing damage to someone else’s property. This can be charged when it’s a known person – like you key your boyfriend’s car after a fight – or, with an unknown entity – like spray painting the side of a building. No matter the intent, causing the damage can result in criminal charges. A man was recently sentenced to three years in the Colorado Department of Corrections after he pled guilty to charges related to stealing body parts. According to the report, law enforcement was called to a cemetery after damage was discovered to a mausoleum. Inside, a casket was damaged as well. Parts of the body in the casket had been removed. The man was later identified and arrested – no word on what he did with the body parts or why he took them to begin with. He plead guilty to Criminal Mischief, Abuse of a Corpse, and Theft.
Loveland Criminal Mischief Attorney: Definition of Criminal Mischief in Colorado
The Loveland, Colorado law definition of Criminal Mischief – C.R.S. 18-4-501 – is:
The man was charged with Criminal Mischief for the damage caused to the mausoleum, the crypt inside, and the casket, which was pried open.
Penalty for Criminal Mischief Charges in Larimer County
In Larimer County, Colorado, Criminal Mischief is charged based on the amount of damage caused. It can range from a petty offense to a class 1 felony. Criminal Mischief is:
- A petty offense when the aggregate damage to the real or personal property is less than three hundred dollars;
- A class 2 misdemeanor when the aggregate damage to the real or personal property is three hundred dollars or more but less than one thousand dollars;
- A class 1 misdemeanor when the aggregate damage to the real or personal property is one thousand dollars or more but less than two thousand dollars;
- A class 6 felony when the aggregate damage to the real or personal property is two thousand dollars or more but less than five thousand dollars;
- A class 5 felony when the aggregate damage to the real or personal property is five thousand dollars or more but less than twenty thousand dollars;
- A class 4 felony when the aggregate damage to the real or personal property is twenty thousand dollars or more but less than one hundred thousand dollars;
- A class 3 felony when the aggregate damage to the real or personal property is one hundred thousand dollars or more but less than one million dollars; and
- A class 2 felony when the aggregate damage to the real or personal property is one million dollars or more.
An exact amount was not provided in the article, but I’m guessing he is at least in the felony range for the damage caused. Likely, the casket will have to be completely replaced and I can’t image the damage to the mausoleum and crypt will be an easy fix.
If you or someone you love has been charged with Criminal Mischief, 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 to schedule a free initial consultation. Together, we can protect your future.
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