Criminal Damage to Property

Mankato Criminal Attorney & Lawyer

Criminal damage to property is the intentional act of causing damage to another person’s physical property without that person consenting. If you have been charged with criminal damage to property, you need a Southern Minnesota criminal damage to property attorney to represent you throughout the entire legal process.

Degrees Of Property Damage

Property damage is categorized based on the severity of the crime. The category is what determines the exact penalty if convicted.

The following are the degrees in which criminal damage to property are classified:

  • First Degree – bodily harm occurred and there was a reasonable foreseeable risk of it occurring, the damaged reduced property value by at least $1,000, the damaged reduced the property value by $500 and the defendant had a previous conviction within three years before the act, or the property owner was a common carrier.
  • Second Degree – Property damage reduced the value of the property by a dollar amount of $500 to $1,000 and was motivated by bias.
  • Third Degree – The damaged reduced the property value by an amount between 4500 and $1,000 or the damaged reduced the property value by $500 at the most and was motivated by bias.
  • Fourth Degree – The property damage includes intentional damage that does not fit the criteria for First, Second or Third Degree Criminal Property Damage.

Penalties

There are both legal and personal consequences, which is why you need a Mankato criminal damage to property lawyer to help you reduce those penalties as much as possible. A First Degree conviction results in a felony on your criminal record with a $10,000 fine and 5 years in prison. A Second Degree conviction results in a felony and a $3,000 fine and one year and one day in prison. Third Degree results in a gross misdemeanor with a fine of $3,000 and one year in jail. A Fourth Degree Conviction has a penalty that is up to the judge’s discretion, which could include 3 months in jail or probation and fines.

If you have been charged with any of these, you have the right to work toward the best possible outcome so that you can move on with your life as soon as possible. Your attorney will use a strategic defense that uses the law, evidence, and facts to show the court what the appropriate resolution is.

Contact A Southern Minnesota Criminal Lawyer

Criminal damage to property can come with some rather strict consequences if convicted, but this is also a charge that can be the result of a mistake or misunderstanding. In order to reveal the facts in your case, you need a highly knowledgeable and experienced attorney working by your side every step of the way. Birkholz Law gives you nearly four decades of criminal law experience with thousands of cases of experience going to work for you. To schedule your free consultation, call the Mankato office at 507-387-2100, the Westbrook office at 507-274-6501, or the St. James office at 507-375-3374.