In Weld County if you damage the property of another than you could face a Criminal Mischief charge. Recently a 71-year-old grandfather in Denver found out that his drawings on a pickleball court have him facing criminal charges. Allegedly, the man used a permanent marker to show the staff where to lay the markers for the pickleball court. The parks department states that the damages are over $9,000 to refinish the floors and Criminal Mischief charges were charged. If you like this man are facing Criminal Mischief charges call the O’Malley Law Office, our attorneys have many years of experience defending these cases and getting favorable outcomes. Below we discuss a Criminal Mischief charge in Weld County and if you are facing them in Larimer County you can get help here.
Definition of Criminal Mischief, C.R.S. 18-4-501, in Greeley, Colorado
The definition of Criminal Mischief, C.R.S. 18-4-501, in Greeley is:
When the man in the above story did in fact draw on the wood floor, if it caused damaged, he could be charged with Criminal Mischief. These charges are especially common in cases involving family arguments or disagreements between neighbors, however like in the above story it can also be damage to public property as well.
Weld County Examples of Criminal Mischief
A few examples of Criminal Mischief in Weld County are:
- Graffiti or tagging (or in the case above drawing on property)
- Keying a car
- Purposefully breaking a window
- Slashing car tires
- Removing survey markers
- Putting a virus on a computer
- Tampering with utility meters, emergency exits, or fire alarms
What is the Sentencing and Penalty Structure for Criminal Mischief in Greeley, Colorado?
The structure for sentencing and penalties for a Criminal Mischief conviction in Greeley, depend on the on the value of the property that was damaged or destroyed. For property damage less than $300 dollars it is a Petty Offense. The penalties for a Petty Offense is up to 10 days in Weld County Jail and/or a fine of up to $300. The sentences and penalties become more severe with the amount of the damage. For example, in the above story since the damages were estimated over $9,000 the can could face a sentence of a class 5 felony when the damage to the property is $5,000 or more but less than $20,000. The penalties for a class 5 felony are 1-3 years in Colorado State Prison and/or $1,000 to $100,000 in fines, with a 2-year parole period.
Why You Should Hire a Top Weld County Criminal Mischief Attorney and Some Common Defenses?
The lawyers at the O’Malley Law Office know that accidents and mistakes can happen and sometimes when they do you can find yourself facing a Criminal Mischief charge in Weld County. Our attorneys will fight for the best possible outcome and for your future. To fight there are many possible defenses however some common defenses for a Criminal Mischief charge are:
- The defendant did not act “knowingly”, and it was an accident.
- The defendant was a victim of mistaken identity.
- There were false accusations from the victim, to hurt the defendant.
- The damaged property was the defendants.
Both felonies and misdemeanors can have major consequences on your life. The man in our highlighted story is facing a large fine, years in prison, and a criminal record. If you are facing a Criminal Mischief Charge in Weld County no you are not alone and hire an attorney to fight for you.