Castle Rock Vandalism Attorney

Woman Scratched Car as Revenge and Charged Criminal Mischief

Vandalism, or causing property damage, is charged as Criminal Mischief in Castle Rock and Douglas County. A woman is facing this criminal charge after using a rock to scratch a neighbor’s car. According to the report, the woman was angry at the neighbor for hitting her mother’s car with his car door weeks before. The neighbor saw the woman scratching his car through his apartment window. The woman initially left before she could be confronted, but police later caught up with her and she admitted to the vandalism. The car was not just scratched, but also had a broken windshield wiper and a crack in the windshield, which totaled about $3,000 in damage.

Douglas County Criminal Mischief Lawyer: Definition of Criminal Mischief Vandalism

The Douglas County, Colorado law definition of Criminal Mischief – C.R.S. 18-4-501 – is:

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A person commits criminal mischief when he or she 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, in the course of a single criminal episode.”

Because the woman damaged the man’s car, she was charged with this crime.

Sentence for Criminal Mischief in Highlands Ranch and Parker

In Castle Rock, Highlands Ranch, and Parker, Criminal Mischief / Vandalism is charged as a misdemeanor or felony depending on the amount of damage that was caused. So, when the damage is between $1,000 and $5,000, like in the case above, it is charged as a class 6 felony. This level felony is punishable by 12 to 18 months in the Colorado Department of Corrections and up to $100,000 in fines. This $100,000 would only cover fines and court fees, not restitution. Restitution is a major part of a Criminal Mischief case, because the victim will likely request repayment for the damage caused.