A public sculpture has been vandalized in Boulder, Colorado. Someone took a can of orange spray paint to it. When something is damaged or vandalized, the person responsible will be charged with Criminal Mischief – C.R.S. 18-4-501 in Jackson, Grand, or Larimer County. Let’s look closer at this law and how it is charged.
What is Criminal Mischief in Larimer County?
Criminal Mischief is most often charged after public or private property is vandalized. The actual definition states a person will face charges if they knowingly damage the “real or personal property of one or more other persons.” Common examples of Criminal Mischief are:
- Graffiti
- Car Windows Shot Out
- Broken Fences
- Egged Houses and Cars
- Smashed TV’s and Other Personal Property
The Hidden Danger of Fort Collins Criminal Mischief Charges
Young people often don’t realize the consequences can be serious after something is vandalized in Fort Collins, Loveland, or Estes Park. This results from the way Criminal Mischief is charged. The seriousness of the crime depends on the value of the items which were damaged. And, police add up the sum of all the items damaged, instead of counting each individual piece of property. And, it adds up quickly. For example, let’s say the person who tagged the statue let the paint seep onto the park bench it was sitting near. The statue is worth $450; if it was the only thing damaged, the vandal would be charged with a class 2 misdemeanor. But, because the park bench is worth $250, the sum of both the damaged items is $700 – which means the vandal will now be charged with a class 1 misdemeanor instead. The next step would be felony charges.
[pullquote align=”center” textalign=”center” width=”90%”]Graffiti artists view tagging as an art from. But, they will be charged with a crime if caught.[/pullquote]Vandalized Property in Loveland and Why You Need a Lawyer
Graffiti artists view tagging as an art form. Unfortunately, when property is vandalized, the police begin to hunt down the perpetrator. The Boulder police found an empty spray paint can near the vandalized statue, and are looking for the graffiti artist. If you have been contacted by the police regarding vandalized property and possible Criminal Mischief charges, don’t hesitate to contact an experienced criminal defense attorney to begin work on your defense. Charges can pile up, and you could face consequences which could affect your life. Don’t plead guilty to avoid jail time – fight for your future. The lawyers at the O’Malley Law Office fight to win.