In New York, vandalism is covered under the legal definition of "criminal mischief"—although this offense also covers a number of other wrongdoings. Under this statute, you would be subject to the penalties of criminal mischief in the first, second, third or fourth degree if you have intentionally or unlawfully destroyed another person's property. The severity to which you will be charged will depend on the nature and extent of the damage that was done. For example, most forms of graffiti would be classified as a lesser offense, while more aggressive forms of destruction would yield more serious legal consequences. In the end, the seriousness of the charges will be indicative of the total value of the damage that was done. As such, we encourage you to review the information below to gain a more accurate understanding of what penalties you could be facing:
Criminal Mischief in the First Degree
- One would be charged with a first-degree offense if they have knowingly destroyed another person's property through the use of explosives. It is a Class B felony, which is punishable by 5-25 years in state prison and significant fines.
Criminal Mischief in the Second Degree
- One would be charged with a second-degree offense if they have knowingly destroyed another person's property to the extent of $1,500. It is a Class D felony, which is punishable by up to 5 years in state prison and significant fines.
Criminal Mischief in the Third Degree
- One would be charged with a third-degree offense if they have knowingly destroyed another person's property to the extent of $250 to $1,500. It is a Class E felony, which is punishable by up to 4 years in state prison and significant fines.
Criminal Mischief in the Fourth Degree
- One would be charged with a fourth-degree offense if they have knowingly destroyed another person's property to the extent of $250. It is a Class A misdemeanor, which is punishable by up to one year in county jail and significant fines.
If you or someone you love has been charged with any degree of criminal mischief, you should not hesitate to take timely action in the interest of your defense. When you enlist the help of a New York City criminal attorney from Law Offices of Daniel A. Hochheiser, you can rest assured that you will receive nothing less than the aggressive legal representation that you will need. For this reason, we ask you to give us a call at (800) 813-9069 to take advantage of a free initial consultation today. If you would prefer to contact us online, you can also fill out a complimentary case evaluation form by clicking here.