Criminal Mischief Lawyer in Parker, CO - Sawyer Legal Group, LLC

Criminal Mischief occurs in Douglas County, Colorado when someone damages another person’s property. This crime is sometimes referred to as vandalism. Depending on the damage done, it can be a misdemeanor or felony offense. Individuals can also face Criminal Mischief charges if they damage property they jointly own with another person. Additionally, the sentence enhancer Domestic Violence can be charged alongside Criminal Mischief in situations that involve domestic disputes. An offense of this depth requires expert representation from an especially skilled criminal mischief lawyer.

What is Criminal Mischief in Douglas County?

C.R.S. 18-4-501 defines the offense of Criminal Mischief in Colorado. Someone commits this crime when they:

knowingly damage 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,
in the course of a single criminal episode

This broad definition allows for a plethora of circumstances that can lead to a criminal charge, even when simple accidents occur. We often see criminal mischief charges stem from arguments between people where something of value is either destroyed or damaged. Anything from a ruined trinket to an extremely valuable family heirloom creates for a particularly wide range of potential consequences.

Punishments for Criminal Mischief in Parker, CO

Penalties for Criminal Mischief in Castle Rock, CO are determined by the value of the property that was damaged. Below is an outline of possible consequences based on the total damage:

< $300 = petty offense / up to 10 days in county jail / fines of up to $300
$300 – $999 = class 2 misdemeanor / up to 4 months in jail / max fine of $750
$1,000 – $1,999 = class 1 misdemeanor / up to 12 months in jail / max fine of $1,000
$2,000 – $4,999 = class 6 felony / 12 – 18 months in prison / fines of $1,000 – $100,000
$5,000 – $20,000 = class 5 felony / 1 – 3 years in prison / fines of $1,000 – $100,000
$20,000 – $100,000 = class 4 felony / 2 – 6 years in prison / fines of $2,000 – $500,000
$100,000 – $1,000,000 = class 3 felony / 4 – 12 years in prison / fines of $3,000 – $750,000
> $1,000,000 = class 2 felony / 8 – 24 years in prison / fines of $5,000 – $1,000,000

Douglas County Criminal Defense Attorney

The facts in any Criminal Mischief case in Colorado are especially critical. Hiring an expert criminal defense attorney early on to analyze your unique situation is always the best course of action. Perhaps property was destroyed but it wasn’t your doing or the damaged property is worth far less than what is being claimed. Nevertheless, don’t face these criminal charges alone. Instead, hire an experienced criminal mischief lawyer to represent you in court and fight for your best possible outcome.