If you are involved in mischief, you need to have an experienced Criminal Mischief lawyer in Fort Collins and Loveland by your side to fight for your freedom. Criminal Mischief is a crime that can be easily committed, but it can also carry a very serious sentence. Read more about a similar crime: Criminal Tampering.
Larimer County Criminal Mischief Attorney: What is Criminal Mischief?
This crime deals with damage done to the property of another person. According to Colorado Statutes, Criminal Mischief in Larimer County is charged when a person:
“Knowingly damages the real or personal property of one or more other persons, including property owned by the person jointly with another person or property owned by the person in which another person has a possessory or proprietary interest…”
Fort Collins Criminal Mischief Attorney: Jointly Owned Property and Criminal Mischief
It is important to note that you can be charged with Criminal Mischief in Fort Collins, Loveland or Estes Park even if the property that is damaged is yours as well as another person’s. This crime arises often from vandalism, cases of domestic violence, and pranks. Under the Colorado Statute, you can be prosecuted for damaging your own property, if it was owned jointly with the alleged victim.
What is the Sentence for Criminal Mischief in Colorado?
Criminal Mischief is charged very similarly to Colorado’s statute regarding Theft – C.R.S. 18-4-401: The value of the item that is damaged determines the severity of the crime.
| Class of Crime | Aggregate Damage of Property Harmed | Sentence |
| Class 3 Misdemeanor | Less than $300 | * Up to 6 months in jail
* $50-$750 in fines |
| Class 2 Misdemeanor | $300 to $749 | * 3 to 12 months in jail
* $250-$1,000 in fines |
| Class 1 Misdemeanor | $750 to $999 | * 6 to 18 months in jail
* $500-$5,000 in fines |
| Class 6 Felony | $1,000 to $4,999 | * 12 to 18 months in DOC
* $1,000 to $100,000 in fines |
| Class 5 Felony | $5,000 to $19,999 | * 1 to 3 years in DOC
* $1,000 to $100,000 in fines |
| Class 4 Felony | $20,000 to $99,999 | * 2 to 6 years in DOC
* $2,000 to $500,000 in fines |
| Class 3 Felony | $100,000 to $999,999 | * 4 to 12 years in DOC
* $3,000 to $750,000 in fines |
| Class 2 Felony | $1,000,000 or more | * 8 to 24 years in DOC
* $5,000 to $1,000,000 in fines |
The property values listed above state the entire sum of all the property that was damaged during a single criminal episode. If an alleged victim says that several things were damaged during an incident, the Fort Collins police add up and combine the value of all the damaged items, to create a larger sum. If you are convicted of a misdemeanor, you could spend 3 – 18 months in the Larimer County Jail. If you are convicted of a felony, you could spend 2 – 12 years in the Colorado Department of Corrections. An experienced Criminal Mischief lawyer in Fort Collins and Loveland will work hard to reduce the dollar amount of the damaged items so that you will receive the smallest sentence possible.
Why Do I Need a Criminal Mischief Lawyer in Fort Collins and Loveland Courts?
Often, in order to charge someone as harshly as they can, the Fort Collins Police calculate the aggregate sum of damaged items using their value when they were new, not what it was valued at the time it was destroyed. For example, if a TV cost $1,500 two years ago, but can now be replaced for $700, the defendant will still be charged with a felony (for items valued above $1,000) instead of a misdemeanor (for items valued below $1,000). Our lawyers are experienced with this ploy: We frequently argue to the Larimer County District Attorney, judges and juries that a damaged item’s true worth is much less than charged. We are able to get charges reduced to the accurate value in most cases. We represent good people like you in countless Criminal Mischief cases. We fight for the dismissal of your case and for restitution that is just. We tell the whole story and related what happened from your perspective. We work hard to guard your freedom and employment.