Whether you lived in a rural area and experienced cow tipping first hand, or just heard about from movies and TV shows, it is the well-known activity of sneaking up on a cow while it sleeps and pushing it over. This is apparently fun, though I cannot imagine why. But, what do you do when you live in an urban area and there are no cows in sight? I guess you find an alternative- like a cow-sized car. At least this seems to be the case in Denver because at least five smart cars were tipped over in the early morning hours. Four men were seen running from the area where the damaged cars were found and at this point, that is the only lead Denver Police have. If the vandals are ever caught, they will be facing Criminal Mischief charges for the property damage they caused – with thousands of dollars in restitution.
Urban Cow Tipping = Criminal Mischief Charges in Weld County
The Colorado and Greeley law definition of Criminal Mischief – C.R.S. 18-4-501 – is:
The District Attorney could choose to consider all five cars as part of one criminal episode, or they could charge them each separately. You may not think it would make much difference, but it definitely would in Weld, Morgan, or Logan County! The way the Criminal Mischief statue is set up is the level of felony or misdemeanor that is charged depends on the amount of damage caused:
| Class of Criminal Mischief Crime |
Aggregate Damage of All Property Harmed |
| Class 3 Misdemeanor Criminal Mischief | Less than $300 |
| Class 2 Misdemeanor Criminal Mischief | $300 to $749 |
| Class 1 Misdemeanor Criminal Mischief | $750 to $999 |
| Class 6 Felony Criminal Mischief | $1,000 to $4,999 |
| Class 5 Felony Criminal Mischief | $5,000 to $19,999 |
| Class 4 Felony Criminal Mischief | $20,000 to $99,999 |
| Class 3 Felony Criminal Mischief | $100,000 to $999,999 |
| Class 2 Felony Criminal Mischief | $1,000,000 or more |
Have you been charged with Criminal Mischief? Contact the experienced criminal defense lawyers from the O’Malley Law Office to defend you today!
Have you been charged with Criminal Mischief? Contact the experienced criminal defense lawyers from the O’Malley Law Office to defend you today!
So, if the men were charged based on the idea that the damage to all five cars occurred within a single criminal episode, then the total amount of damage is going to be high and therefore it will be charged as a higher felony offense. If the men were charged with 5 separate counts of Criminal Mischief (1 for each car), they would potentially be facing a misdemeanor or lower level felony for each. Either way, these men are looking at some serious consequences if they are ever caught.
If you or someone you love has been charged with misdemeanor or felony Criminal Mischief in Greeley, Evans, or Erie, be smart, exercise your right to remain silent, and contact the best criminal defense lawyers from the O’Malley Law Office at 970-616-6009 to schedule a free consultation. Together, we can protect your future.
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